What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 48.8).

Palmyra has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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	Palmyra
People
Population	484Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
	Bridgewater and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra and Bridgewater 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	$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME
	Bridgewater and Palmyra 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	$154,900±$34k 48% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME	$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME
	Bridgewater and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME	$1,614Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4%
	Palmyra and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 10% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9%
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.