Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Fairlee vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Fairlee | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
980 |
1,066 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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 | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Barnard and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school 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.