Compare towns
Barnard vs Salisbury 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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
9,281Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Barnard 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. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Triton | — |
| 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.