Compare towns
Pomfret vs Essex 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 most people working from home (30.3%).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Essex | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 908Lowest |
11,516Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Essex 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% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 58%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Essex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,229±$8kLowest 4% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Essex 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±$144kLowest 26% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Essex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Essex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.