Compare towns
Barnard vs Ripton vs Williston 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ripton | Williston | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.