Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Andover vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Andover | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Highest |
616Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
49.2±5.1Lowest 14% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Andover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Andover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.