What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Stratton has the most kids (28% 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	Stratton
People
Population	980Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%	11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Stratton 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	$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT	$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT	$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average
	Stratton 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	$4,750Highest 6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Stratton 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%	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	33 minHighest 39% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.