What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Newfane
People
Population	980Lowest	1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	54.4±3.9Lowest 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%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%	11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Newfane 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%	29.2%±3.9Lowest 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%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT	$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT
	Bridgewater and Newfane 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	$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT
	Newfane and Bridgewater 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	$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average
	Newfane 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	$5,174Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	51.9%±79.7Lowest 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%	10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	27 minHighest 13% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	—	West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.