Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Jay vs Sandgate

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 expensive homes ($234k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

MeasureBridgewaterJaySandgate
People
Population
543Highest
471
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
33.1±6.8Lowest
15% below U.S.
52.1±10.5
34% above U.S.
55.7±5.4Highest
43% above U.S.
Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bridgewater and Jay 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%
26%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sandgate 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%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and Sandgate 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.
$69,167±$19k
14% below U.S.
Jay and Sandgate 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.
$193,800±$31k
42% below U.S.
Jay and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$735±$16
48% below U.S.
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,167Lowest
31% below U.S.
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
$2,778
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.1%±38.6
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jay 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1948Lowest
32 yrs older than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
2.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Jay 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

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.