Compare towns
Barnard vs Sheffield 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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Sheffield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Highest |
573Lowest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Bridgewater 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 20% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.