What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).

Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).

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	Bridgewater	Norwich
People
Population	1,169Lowest	3,640Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S.	40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average	$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S.	$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S.
	Norwich 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#1 of 70 in VT
School district	Newfound Area School District	Norwich School District
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.