Compare towns
Barnard vs Elmore vs Plainfield 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%).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Elmore | Plainfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
964Lowest |
1,314Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 20% above VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Elmore 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 |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Elmore 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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
3.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — | — |
| High school 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.