Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Putney vs Middlesex
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Putney | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.