Compare towns
Pownal vs Plainfield vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Plainfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 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+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Plainfield 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 VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.