Compare towns
Barnard vs Needham 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 the most homeowners (85.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
32,459Highest |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnard 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Pomfret 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Needham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.