Compare towns

Barnard vs Calais vs Ripton vs Pomfret

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 kids (26.9% under 18).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).

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.

MeasureBarnardCalaisRiptonPomfret
People
Population
1,211
1,713Highest
508Lowest
908
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6
about the VT average
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
Pomfret and Ripton 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%
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.5
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
VT: 43.8%
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
20% above VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$84,229±$8kLowest
4% above VT
Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$390,300±$36kLowest
23% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$399,200±$144k
26% above VT
Barnard and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
11% above VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
—
$1,170±$98Lowest
5% below VT
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038
20% above VT
$6,586
31% above VT
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Calais 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%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
21% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.