Compare towns
Pownal vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Berlin has the most renters (12.1% rent).
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 | Newfields | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 26% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Newfields School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.