What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($90k median).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	1,310Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.8±4.2Highest 10% below NY	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Plainfield 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 NY: 40.2%	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%
	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 48% below NY	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$7kLowest 79% below NY	$155,100±$17kHighest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$20Lowest 55% below NY	$750±$207Highest 54% below NY
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,546Lowest 61% below NY	$2,667Highest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield 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%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 28% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Plainfield 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

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.