Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Barnard vs Newfane vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
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 | Bridgewater | Barnard | Newfane | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,211 |
1,456Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Barnard and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.