Compare towns
Arlington vs Barnard vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Arlington | Barnard | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
1,211 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Arlington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.