Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Calais vs White River Junction
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Calais | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,713 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Bridgewater and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and White River Junction 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Calais and White River Junction 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Calais and White River Junction 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Calais and White River Junction 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Calais 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.