Compare towns
Barnard vs Highgate vs Moretown 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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Highgate | Moretown | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
3,528Highest |
1,532 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
46.8±3.8 9% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Moretown 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Moretown 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Moretown 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$380,800±$36k 20% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Moretown 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,506 9% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Moretown and Barnard 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.