Compare towns
Barnard vs Middlebury vs Middlesex 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Middlesex | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
9,175Highest |
1,943 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Middlesex 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Barnard 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
| Middlebury and Barnard 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 |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,722 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Middlesex 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.