Compare towns
Pownal vs Putney vs Berlin vs Bennington
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 homeowners (92.6%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% 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 | Putney | Berlin | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,265 |
2,622Lowest |
2,880 |
15,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington 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 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139 24% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Bennington 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.