Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Rupert vs Braintree vs Fairlee
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Rupert | Braintree | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
676Lowest |
1,026 |
1,066Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
56.2±8.7Lowest 30% above VT |
| Braintree and Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Rupert and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Fairlee 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Rupert and Braintree 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rupert and Fairlee 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 |
— | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.