Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Newfane vs Williston
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).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Newfane | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
4,453 |
1,456 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.