What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).

West Haven has the most kids (17.5% 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	West Haven
People
Population	980Highest	234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	54±10.5Lowest 25% above VT
	Bridgewater and West Haven 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%	17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	West Haven and Bridgewater 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%	29.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bridgewater and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%	0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and West Haven 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	$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT
	West Haven 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	$245,000±$34kHighest 23% below VT
	West Haven and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778 31% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT	$4,485Highest 11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and West Haven 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%	10.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest same as VT	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	25 minHighest 8% above VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	10.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and West Haven 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.