Compare towns
Barnard vs Royalton vs Sharon 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).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | Royalton | Sharon | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,752Highest |
1,577 |
908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
| Pomfret and Sharon 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Sharon 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% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 20% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
| Royalton 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±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above 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±$80 11% above VT |
$1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,170±$98 5% below VT |
| Sharon and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Royalton 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1970 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.