Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Lowell
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
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 | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
980Lowest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Barnard 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Lowell 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±$3k 13% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater 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 | — | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.