Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Braintree vs Newfane 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 kids (12.8% under 18).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Braintree | Newfane | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,026 |
1,456Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
54.4±3.9Lowest 26% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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 |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Braintree 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±$55k 31% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.