Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Poultney vs Newfane
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%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Poultney | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,033 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
54.4±3.9 26% 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% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$70,536±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Poultney 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±$55k 31% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.