Compare towns
Berlin vs Windham vs Union 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Union | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
594Lowest |
2,663 |
3,265Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Union 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. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Union and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,560 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.