Compare towns
Berlin vs Putney vs Sutton vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Putney | Sutton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,622 |
790Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $944±$139 24% below VT |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Pownal 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.