What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blaine has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Bridgewater has the most people working from home (7.5%).

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	Blaine	Bridgewater
People
Population	706Highest	484Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.3±17Lowest 3% above ME	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME
	Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Blaine and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±7.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Blaine and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,707±$24kHighest 8% above ME	$65,417±$15kLowest 12% below ME
	Blaine and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	—	$154,900±$78k 48% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$691±$303Lowest 39% below ME	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME
	Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,804Highest 41% below ME	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 24% below ME	22 minHighest 10% below ME
Work from home	6.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±5.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Bridgewater and Blaine 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

ME 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.