Compare towns
Barnard vs Chester vs Bridgewater
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%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Chester | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,992Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Chester 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.