Compare towns
Berlin vs Windham vs Salisbury vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Windham | Salisbury | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
594Lowest |
1,200 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Salisbury and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
| Windham and Salisbury 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 |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Salisbury and Berlin 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.