Compare towns
Barnard vs Underhill 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Underhill | Williston | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
3,141 |
10,144Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% 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% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 | $6,038 20% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.