Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
980 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Worcester 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%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bridgewater 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.