Compare towns
Barnard vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.
| Measure | Barnard | Chester | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,992Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnard and Pomfret 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% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.