Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Elmore vs Braintree 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).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Braintree has the most renters (19% 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 | Elmore | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
964Lowest |
1,026 |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 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% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 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±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Elmore 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±$55k 31% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Elmore 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 |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Elmore 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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
3.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.