What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).

Edwards has the highest household income ($72k).

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	Edwards
People
Population	1,310Lowest	1,327Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.8±4.2Highest 10% below NY	34.1±8.7Lowest 14% below NY
	Bridgewater and Edwards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	31%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	15%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	14.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Edwards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$44,850±$12kLowest 48% below NY	$72,300±$14kHighest 16% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$7kLowest 79% below NY	$101,800±$9kHighest 76% below NY
	Edwards and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$20Lowest 55% below NY	$850±$331Highest 48% below NY
	Edwards and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,546Highest 61% below NY	$2,225Lowest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	13.2%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Edwards and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.3%Highest NY: 14%	9.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 28% below NY	29 minHighest 11% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bridgewater and Edwards 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

NY 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.