Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jay vs Stockbridge vs Newfane
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Stockbridge has the highest household income ($77k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Jay | Stockbridge | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
471Lowest |
791 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Bridgewater 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$77,109±$12kHighest 5% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Stockbridge 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 |
— | $1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Stockbridge 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,488 11% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.