Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Fairlee vs Reading 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Reading | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,066Highest |
699Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Braintree 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.