What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten
People
Population	484Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
	Patten 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%	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bridgewater and Patten 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%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Patten 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	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME
	Bridgewater and Patten 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	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
	Bridgewater and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Highest 53% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Bridgewater 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%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 10% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Bridgewater 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.