Compare towns
Barnard vs Essex Junction 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).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Essex Junction | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
10,803Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Barnard 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% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Essex Junction 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Barnard 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% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$399,200±$144kLowest 26% above VT |
| Essex Junction 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 11% above VT |
$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$6,722 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction 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% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.