Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Windsor vs Ashland

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).

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.

MeasureBridgewaterWindsorAshland
People
Population
1,169Lowest
2,060
2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.3±6.3Highest
50% above U.S.
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
42.3±11.2Lowest
9% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Windsor 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%
21.1%±8.8
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Windsor 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%
29.2%±8
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bridgewater and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashland 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±$9kHighest
about the U.S. average
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
$54,607±$9k
32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,600±$65kHighest
20% above U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
$227,000±$29k
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$201Highest
20% below U.S.
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,096±$155
22% below U.S.
Bridgewater and Ashland 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.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$4,961Highest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±13.6
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashland and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ashland and Bridgewater 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 — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district Newfound Area School District — Ashland School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.