Compare towns
Pownal vs Westminster vs Ripton 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,265Highest |
497Lowest |
508 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pownal 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Ripton 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 19% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Pownal 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.