Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Dover vs Mendon 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Dover | Mendon | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Mendon and Barnard 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Mendon 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Mendon 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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.