What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Ryegate
People
Population	980Lowest	1,059Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate and Bridgewater 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%	22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT
	Bridgewater and Ryegate 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	$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT
	Ryegate and Bridgewater 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	$908±$236Highest 26% below VT
	Ryegate 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	$3,472Highest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate 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%	14.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.