Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Newfane vs Springfield 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).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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 | Newfane | Springfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,456 |
9,084Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Springfield 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above 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 |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Newfane 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Barnard 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.