Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sheldon vs Stockbridge
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).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
2,267Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Sheldon 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±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stockbridge 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 |
$283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stockbridge 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,488Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Sheldon 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.