Compare towns
Berlin vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Westminster | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
2,999 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Westminster 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$916±$126Lowest 26% 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 | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Pownal 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.