Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Tunbridge vs Calais 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).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Tunbridge | Calais | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,253 |
1,713Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Bridgewater and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais 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 |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 Our Story | 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.