Compare towns
Barnard vs Hancock vs Stratton 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Hancock | Stratton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barnard 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Stratton 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 |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Stratton 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 |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Hancock 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.