What stands out worked out from the figures below

Proctor has the most kids (17.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Proctor	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,586Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.5% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Lowest 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+	23.5%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,060±$12kHighest 8% below VT	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT
	Proctor and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT	$218,300±$55kHighest 31% below VT
	Bridgewater and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Proctor and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 22% below VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Proctor 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 5% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.