What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Bridgewater	Pittsfield
People
Population	980Highest	391Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	53.8±3.5Lowest 25% above VT
	Bridgewater and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	13.6%±8.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Pittsfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Pittsfield 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%	45.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Pittsfield 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	$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Bridgewater and Pittsfield 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	$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average
	Pittsfield 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	$1,035±$140Highest 16% below VT
	Pittsfield 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	$5,181Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Pittsfield 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%	8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%	28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Pittsfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.