Compare towns

Barnard vs Dover vs Pomfret 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%).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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.

MeasureBarnardDoverPomfretBridgewater
People
Population
1,211
1,466Highest
908Lowest
980
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
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±12.1
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%
15.4%±6
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%
29.5%±6.5
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%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Dover 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
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$84,229±$8k
4% above VT
$70,272±$3k
13% below VT
Barnard and Pomfret 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
$399,200±$144k
26% above VT
$218,300±$55kLowest
31% below VT
Barnard and Pomfret 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
$1,170±$98
5% below VT
$850±$778
31% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038
20% above VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$3,418Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
59.7%±39.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Bridgewater and Dover 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%
5.8%
VT: 10.1%
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
21% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret and Dover 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.