Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ripton vs Worcester 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 the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 47).
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 | Ripton | Worcester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
508Lowest |
831 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above 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%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Worcester 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.