Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Dover vs Wardsboro vs Braintree
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 housing (typical home built 1976).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Braintree has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Dover | Wardsboro | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,466Highest |
820Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Bridgewater 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Wardsboro 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.