Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Strafford vs West 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Strafford | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
1,372Highest |
711Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and West 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,210 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.