Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Mapleton vs Braintree 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,026 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%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% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$840±$405 41% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 10% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 |
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.