Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Newfane vs Reading 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).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Newfane | Reading | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,456Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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±$49k 10% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— |
| Newfane and Reading 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bridgewater 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.