What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Bridgewater	Brookline
People
Population	980Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline 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%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Brookline 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	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average
	Brookline 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	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
	Brookline 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	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
	Brookline 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	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Brookline 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%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	28 minHighest 21% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Bridgewater 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.