Compare towns
West Fairlee vs Bridgewater vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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.
| Measure | West Fairlee | Bridgewater | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 711Lowest |
980 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,210 3% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.