Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Highgate 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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Highgate | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,026 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.