Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Fairlee vs Newfane vs Reading
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).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Fairlee | Newfane | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,066 |
1,456Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Newfane 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Newfane and Reading 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Reading 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% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.