Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Lowell vs Barnard vs Newfane
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).
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Lowell | Barnard | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,070 |
1,211 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Barnard 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Barnard and Newfane 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 |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Barnard and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lowell School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.