Compare towns
Braintree vs Fairlee vs Middlesex vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Braintree | Fairlee | Middlesex | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,066 |
1,943Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
57.1±8 32% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$850±$778 31% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.