Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Sheldon
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).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%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 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.