Compare towns
Barnard vs Dover vs Mendon 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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Mendon 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Mendon 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.