Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Middlesex vs Putney vs 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 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 |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min 3% 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% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.