Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Elmore vs Worcester 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).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
964 |
831Lowest |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Worcester 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% |
23.4%±9.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$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±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136 17% 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 |
$4,421 12% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Elmore 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Barnard 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.