What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Brunswick has the most kids (23.9% 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	Brunswick
People
Population	980Highest	109Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.1±8Lowest 32% above VT	57.5±13.8Highest 33% above VT
	Brunswick and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.9%±24.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brunswick and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	39.4%±25.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Brunswick 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	35.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	3.7%±11Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Brunswick 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	$128,125±$33kHighest 58% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT	$228,100±$52kHighest 28% below VT
	Brunswick and Bridgewater 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Highest 32% below VT	$2,472Lowest 51% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	100%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brunswick 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	95.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 same as VT	1976 same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	41 minHighest 76% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9%	10.5%±15.2 VT: 16.9%
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.