Compare towns
Barnard vs Waitsfield vs Pomfret vs Calais
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield | Pomfret | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,918Highest |
908Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pomfret and Waitsfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| 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±$71k 27% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.