Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Tunbridge 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).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% 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.

MeasureBridgewaterTunbridgeFairlee
People
Population
980Lowest
1,253Highest
1,066
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
32% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
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%
21.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Tunbridge and Bridgewater 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%
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Fairlee 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±$26kHighest
10% above VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
Tunbridge and 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
$315,300±$23kHighest
about the VT average
$274,200±$39k
13% below VT
Tunbridge and Fairlee 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
$1,346±$128Highest
9% above VT
$1,083±$242
12% below VT
Tunbridge and 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
$4,645
8% below VT
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Tunbridge 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
31% above VT
24 min
3% above VT
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Fairlee 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 Rivendell Interstate School District
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.