Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Exeter vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k 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 | Bridgewater | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 543Lowest |
913 |
1,016Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 33.1±6.8Lowest 17% below NY |
51.7±12.6Highest 30% above NY |
34.5±6.6 13% below NY |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±6.4 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±7.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.9%±10.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.5 NY: 7% |
1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $35,694±$8kLowest 58% below NY |
$77,550±$19kHighest 10% below NY |
$70,673±$6k 18% below NY |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $80,000±$43kLowest 81% below NY |
$243,000±$89kHighest 43% below NY |
$155,100±$17k 63% below NY |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $735±$16Lowest 55% below NY |
$867±$44Highest 47% below NY |
$750±$207 54% below NY |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 67% below NY |
$2,926Highest 56% below NY |
$2,667 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.1%±38.6 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 28.7%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
97.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
29 min 12% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±10.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | None yet |
NY 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.