Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Benson vs Fairlee
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).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Benson | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
784Lowest |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
51.9±9.4Lowest 20% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Bridgewater 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 |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Benson and Fairlee 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.