Compare towns
Pomfret vs Sheldon vs Williamstown 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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Sheldon | Williamstown | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 908Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±12.1Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Pomfret and Barnard 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Williamstown 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% 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±$98Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,722Highest 33% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±22.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Barnard 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.3%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Pomfret and Barnard 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.