Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Middlesex vs Putney 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.