Compare towns
Barnard vs Dummerston vs Townsend vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Dummerston | Townsend | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,090 |
9,100Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,722Highest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.