Compare towns
Barnard vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
648Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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 21% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Barnard 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 | Nelson School District | — |
| 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.