Compare towns
Pownal vs Exeter vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Pownal | Exeter | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
16,151Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% 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 | 16.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.