Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Middlesex vs Newfane vs Ripton
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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Newfane | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,943Highest |
1,456 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
— |
| Middlesex and Newfane 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.