Compare towns
Pownal vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
10,144Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1 14% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.