Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
2,965Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.