Compare towns

Fairlee vs Proctor vs Bridgewater

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairlee has the most people working from home (15%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

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.

MeasureFairleeProctorBridgewater
People
Population
1,066
1,794Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
56.2±8.7
30% above VT
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
57.1±8Highest
32% above VT
Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
Proctor and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.4%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.2%±0.7
VT: 21.4%
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 7%
Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10kHighest
8% below VT
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below VT
Fairlee and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39kHighest
13% below VT
$209,900±$17kLowest
34% below VT
$218,300±$55k
31% below VT
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242Highest
12% below VT
$1,029±$202
17% below VT
$850±$778Lowest
31% below VT
Fairlee and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$4,032
20% below VT
$3,418Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
59.7%±39.1
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
3% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
15%±7.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 —
High school in town None in town Proctor Junior/Senior High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
—
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.