Compare towns
Barnard vs Dover vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Dover | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,308Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Barnard 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.