What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Bridgewater has the most homeowners (85.4%).

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	North Bennington	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,336Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10Lowest about the VT average	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	North Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT
	Bridgewater and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
	North Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	North Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,590Highest 11% above VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.7%±26.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	North Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.