Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jay vs Plainfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Jay | Plainfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 543 |
471Lowest |
1,016 |
2,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.1±6.8Lowest 15% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Jay and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Jay 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 56% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$69,205±$9k 14% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 76% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28k 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $735±$16Lowest 48% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$981±$75Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,197 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.1%±38.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 28.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.