Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Mapleton vs Fairlee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureBridgewaterMapletonFairlee
People
Population
980Lowest
1,884Highest
1,066
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
56.2±8.7
44% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
Mapleton 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±$55k
34% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$274,200±$39kHighest
18% below U.S.
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$778
40% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,083±$242Highest
23% below U.S.
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,418
10% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Fairlee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.