Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Benson vs Barnard
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).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Benson | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
784Lowest |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Benson 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Benson 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.