Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Fairlee vs Panton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
1,066Highest |
690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
| Panton 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 |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Panton and Fairlee 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.