Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Sheffield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
573Lowest |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Bridgewater 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Bridgewater 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.