Compare towns
Berlin vs Pownal vs Wright vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Wright has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Berlin | Pownal | Wright | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,265Highest |
1,739Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49±9.1Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Wright and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wright and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21k 21% below U.S. |
$86,250±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Wright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32k 23% below U.S. |
$242,000±$36k 27% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$953±$79 33% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,279Highest 69% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.6%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.