Compare towns

Pownal vs Windham vs Petersburgh

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Petersburgh has the most affordable homes ($170k median).

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.

MeasurePownalWindhamPetersburgh
People
Population
3,265Highest
594Lowest
1,310
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-10%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49±9.1
26% above U.S.
44.2±7.4Lowest
14% above U.S.
51.3±6.3Highest
32% above U.S.
Petersburgh 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
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Petersburgh and Pownal 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 U.S.
$94,500±$12kHighest
17% above U.S.
$77,692±$15k
4% below U.S.
Windham and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$256,600±$32k
23% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$170,300±$23kLowest
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
—
$1,100±$630Highest
22% below U.S.
Petersburgh and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,560
14% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,223Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.2%±42.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Pownal and Petersburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
16.4%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — —
School district Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 — —
High school in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.