Compare towns
Brandon vs Jay vs Berlin vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Pownal has the youngest population (median age 49).
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 | Brandon | Jay | Berlin | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
471Lowest |
2,880 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
49±9.1Lowest 14% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Berlin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% 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 | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.