Compare towns
Fairlee vs Williston vs Bridgewater vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Williston | Bridgewater | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
10,144Highest |
980Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Williston 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.