Compare towns
Bernardston vs Pomfret vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pomfret has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($282k median).
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 | Bernardston | Pomfret | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
4,317Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Lowest 18% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pomfret and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$89,390±$6k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$281,900±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$71Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,522 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret and Bernardston 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 | — | #39 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Pomfret School District | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.