Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Castleton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Highest 10% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bridgewater and Hampton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.