Compare towns
Barnard vs Stratton vs Calais 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 expensive homes ($403k median).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Stratton | Calais | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
532Lowest |
1,713Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barnard 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$19k 20% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.