Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Panton vs Braintree
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Braintree has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).
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 | Panton | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
690Lowest |
1,026Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Panton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Panton 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 |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.