Compare towns
Pawlet vs Bridgewater vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Pawlet | Bridgewater | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
980Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Highest 22% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | — |
| 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.