What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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	Whiting
People
Population	980Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT	39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Whiting 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%	13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 7%	6.2%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Whiting 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	$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT
	Whiting 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	$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT
	Whiting and Bridgewater 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	$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average
	Whiting 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	$4,227Highest 16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%	58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Whiting 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%	11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest same as VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the VT average	22 minLowest 7% below VT
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town	—	None in town
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.