Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Middlesex vs Westford vs Newfane
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%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Westford | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,943 |
2,290Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Westford 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Westford 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±$359 8% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.