Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Norwich vs Bristol
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).
Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Norwich | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,640Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% 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% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Bristol 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Bristol 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. |
$4,162 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Bridgewater 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% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Bristol 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Norwich School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.