Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Dover vs Dummerston
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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Dover | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
1,466 |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Dover 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±$3k 13% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Barnard and Dummerston 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±$778 31% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Dummerston 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.