What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Belvidere has the most kids (22% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Belvidere
People
Population	980Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	22%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Belvidere 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%	8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT	$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Belvidere 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	$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT
	Belvidere and Bridgewater 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	$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT
	Belvidere and Bridgewater 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	$3,908Highest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Belvidere 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%	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	38 minHighest 60% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	9.4%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.