Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Wheelock 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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.

MeasureBridgewaterWheelockBarnard
People
Population
980
717Lowest
1,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
32% above VT
51±5.6
18% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
Bridgewater and Wheelock 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%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Wheelock 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%
29.4%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bridgewater and Wheelock 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%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Wheelock 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
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$218,300±$55k
31% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
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
$3,418
32% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
17% above VT
29 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Barnard 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

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.