Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Poultney 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
1,033Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Poultney 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%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Poultney 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 |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Poultney 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Poultney and Bridgewater 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.