Compare towns
Pomfret vs Reading vs Rochester 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Reading | Rochester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908 |
699Lowest |
1,389Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Reading 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±$8k 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Rochester 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pomfret 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | 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.