Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Waitsfield 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 kids (12.8% under 18).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
Stockbridge has the highest household income ($77k).

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.

MeasureBridgewaterWaitsfieldStockbridge
People
Population
980Highest
193Lowest
791
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
57.1±8
32% above VT
74.8±13.4Highest
74% above VT
55.3±5.3Lowest
28% above VT
Waitsfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
0%±14.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
9.9%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Bridgewater and Stockbridge 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%
71.5%±17.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.9%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
VT: 43.8%
71.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±9.1
VT: 7%
1.1%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,272±$3k
13% below VT
$26,384±$5kLowest
68% below VT
$77,109±$12kHighest
5% below VT
Stockbridge and Bridgewater 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
$453,100±$98kHighest
43% above VT
$283,500±$26k
10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$778Lowest
31% below VT
—
$1,140±$126Highest
8% below VT
Stockbridge 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
$4,688Highest
7% below VT
$4,488
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.1%±49.6Lowest
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%
3.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
3.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
33.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
14 minLowest
40% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
10.5%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
31%±23.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
28.6%±12.2
VT: 16.9%
Waitsfield and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.