Compare towns
Berlin vs Williston vs Windham vs Pownal
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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Williston | Windham | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
10,144 |
16,038Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham School District | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| 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.