Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Springfield 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,122 |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%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% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 34% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Springfield 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. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.