Compare towns
Pownal vs Springfield 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 people working from home (16.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Springfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
9,084Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Springfield 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% 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 | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pownal and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.