Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Windsor vs Braintree vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Windsor | Braintree | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
3,554Highest |
1,026 |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 32% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Danby 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% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Danby 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
| Braintree and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
| Danby 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 |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
| Windsor 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Danby 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.