Compare towns

Barnard vs Eliot 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.

MeasureBarnardEliotBridgewater
People
Population
1,211
7,146Highest
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.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Eliot 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%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
22%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bridgewater and Eliot 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
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and Barnard 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.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
Eliot 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±$71k
21% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
Eliot and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bridgewater and Eliot 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard and Eliot 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 — #19 of 133 in ME —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 RSU 35/MSAD 35 —
High school in town None 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.