Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ripton vs Sutton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most renters (15% rent).
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 | Ripton | Sutton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
508Lowest |
790 |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Ripton 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±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Ripton 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 |
— | — | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| 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 32% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.