Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Dorset vs Jericho 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Dorset | Jericho | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
2,092 |
5,114Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Jericho 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% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dorset 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
65.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,318 45% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Dorset 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% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Jericho 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 | — | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.