Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sheldon vs Killington 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Killington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+73.5%).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Sheldon | Killington | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
2,267Highest |
785Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+73.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.8±4.2 23% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Killington and Bridgewater 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,250±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Killington and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$488,400±$85kHighest 54% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,286±$483Highest 4% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$6,827Highest 35% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±25.8 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.7%±10.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Killington and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.