Compare towns
Barnard vs Windsor vs Strafford 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%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Windsor | Strafford | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
3,554Highest |
1,372 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Strafford 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Windsor 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% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Strafford 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Strafford 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Strafford 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.