What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westfield has the most people working from home (36.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Westfield
People
Population	484Highest	389Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-17.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME	47.5±5Lowest 6% above ME
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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%	8.7%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Bridgewater and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4%	27.2%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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%	18.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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	$52,917±$17kLowest 29% below ME
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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	$134,400±$61kLowest 55% below ME
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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	$950±$175Highest 17% below ME
	Westfield and Bridgewater 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	$1,550Highest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Westfield 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%	13.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 10% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	36.6%±31.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Westfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.