Compare towns
Berlin vs Sheffield 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 the highest household income ($87k).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Pownal has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Sheffield | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
190Lowest |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below 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% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Sheffield 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 VT |
$65,795±$12k 19% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| 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±$171 5% below VT |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sheffield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$3,560 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Berlin 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 |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.