Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Rochester 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 kids (12.8% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Newfane has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Rochester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,389 |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Rochester 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±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.