Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Orange 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Orange has the most renters (30% 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 | Orange | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%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% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard 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 U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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 | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.