Compare towns

Barnard vs Chelsea 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%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k median).
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.

MeasureBarnardChelseaPomfret
People
Population
1,211
1,223Highest
908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
54.1±12.1Highest
26% above VT
53.4±12.1
24% above VT
Chelsea 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%
21.9%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Chelsea 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%
29.4%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret and Chelsea 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%
29.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Chelsea 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
$65,913±$13kLowest
19% below VT
$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
$260,900±$39kLowest
18% 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±$80
11% above VT
$1,524±$467Highest
24% above VT
$1,170±$98Lowest
5% below VT
Chelsea 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
$3,762Lowest
25% below VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
66.3%±33.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Chelsea and Barnard 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%
14.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1970
6 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
21% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±7.8Lowest
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
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 First Branch Unified School District #82 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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.