Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Wilder vs Williston
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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
3,087 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school 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.