Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Peru
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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
980 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Barnard and Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Barnard and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Peru 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.