Compare towns
Barnard vs Springfield vs Pomfret vs Calais
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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Springfield | Pomfret | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
154,749Highest |
908Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Calais 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. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$84,229±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Calais 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 21% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$399,200±$144k 20% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,170±$98 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Barnard 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,722Highest 116% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Calais 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Calais 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Springfield | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.