Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Middlesex vs Williston 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,943 |
10,144Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.