Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jay vs Plainfield vs Wheeler
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wheeler has the most kids (40.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Jay | Plainfield | Wheeler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,310Highest |
471Lowest |
1,016 |
1,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±4.2 8% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
33.3±13.6Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
40.9%±24.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheeler and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jay and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $44,850±$12kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$59,688±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$7kLowest 73% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$119,400±$16k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $736±$20Lowest 48% below U.S. |
— | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$1,341±$150Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,546Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,667 14% below U.S. |
$2,573 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.8%±28.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15.4%±36.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
35%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±23.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.