Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Calais vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Barnard | Bridgewater | Calais | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
1,713 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.