Compare towns
Barnard vs Castleton vs Braintree 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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.
| Measure | Barnard | Castleton | Braintree | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
4,453Highest |
1,026 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.4±12.1 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Pomfret 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Pomfret 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below 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±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Barnard 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.