Compare towns
Barnard vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
5,920Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Barnard and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.