Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Newfane vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,456 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
53.5±3.7Lowest 24% 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Bridgewater 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%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Westminster 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
| Westminster and Bridgewater 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% 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% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.