What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Monticello has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.7%).

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	Bridgewater	Monticello
People
Population	484Lowest	674Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-6.7%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME	52.7±6Highest 18% above ME
	Monticello and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bridgewater and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Monticello and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME	$51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME
	Bridgewater and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$78kHighest 48% below ME	$125,800±$36kLowest 58% below ME
	Bridgewater and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116Lowest 33% below ME	$833±$434Highest 27% below ME
	Monticello and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Highest 53% below ME	$1,200Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	37.5%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 10% below ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Bridgewater and Monticello 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.