Compare towns
Pomfret vs Castleton vs Brookfield vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Pomfret | Castleton | Brookfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,486 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,229±$8k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Brookfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,200±$144k 26% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% 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 | $1,170±$98 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Brookfield 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 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.