Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bennington vs New Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Bennington | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7 33% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$95,250±$35kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| New Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$383,700±$37k 15% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S. |
$749±$433Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,973Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.