Compare towns
Barnard vs Middlesex vs Springfield 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Springfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,943 |
9,084Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Springfield 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.