Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Calais vs Williston vs Newfane
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).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Williston | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,713 |
10,144Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$3k 13% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Williston and Calais 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±$36k 23% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Williston and Calais 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1976 same as VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.