Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Exeter vs Barnard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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.

MeasureBridgewaterExeterBarnard
People
Population
980
913Lowest
1,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
42.4±6Lowest
9% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.2%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$97,581±$19kHighest
21% above U.S.
Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$402,600±$71kHighest
21% above U.S.
Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$1,372±$80Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,418
10% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Bridgewater and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.