Compare towns
Barnard vs Brandon vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Barnard | Brandon | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
4,120Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Brandon and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.