Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Rumney vs Braintree 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Rumney has the most renters (22.2% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Rumney | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,458Highest |
1,026 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%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% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Rumney 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 U.S. |
$79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100 25% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rumney School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 |
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.