Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Newfane vs Ripton vs Stratton
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%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
1,456Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Newfane and Stratton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.