What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).

Barnard has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newington	Barnard
People
Population	939Lowest	1,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S.	42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Newington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.	$97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Newington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.	$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.	$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%	27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnard and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newington School District	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.