Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Brighton vs Windsor 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k 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 | Bridgewater | Brighton | Windsor | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,167 |
2,060Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Windsor 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Brighton 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 | — | Brighton School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.