What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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	Ryegate	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,059Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT
	Bridgewater and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
	Ryegate and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Highest 26% below VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Ryegate and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Highest 31% below VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bridgewater and Ryegate 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.