Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Mendon vs Barnard vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Barnard | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,113 |
1,211Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Mendon and Barnard 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Barnard and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Barnard and Mendon 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bridgewater 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Barnard 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 |
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.