Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Randolph vs Wilder 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Randolph | Wilder | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
4,843Highest |
3,087 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Wilder 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Randolph 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph and Wilder 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 |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
21 min 12% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Randolph Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.