Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jay vs West Fairlee
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%).
West Fairlee has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
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 | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Highest |
471Lowest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and West Fairlee 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% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and West 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$237,200±$35kHighest 25% below VT |
| West Fairlee and Jay 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 |
— | $1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Bridgewater 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.