Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Exeter vs Barnard vs Braintree
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%).
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
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 | Exeter | Barnard | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
913Lowest |
1,211Highest |
1,026 |
| 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% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% 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% |
1.8%±1.3 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. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below 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±$778 40% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 10% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% 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% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.