Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Tunbridge vs Calais vs Braintree
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
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 | Tunbridge | Calais | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,253 |
1,713Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 |
$89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Calais and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$1,346±$128 9% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Calais and Tunbridge 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.