What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wheeler has the most people working from home (21.8%).

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	Wheeler
People
Population	1,310Highest	1,195Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.8±4.2Highest 10% below NY	33.3±13.6Lowest 16% below NY
	Bridgewater and Wheeler 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%	40.9%±24.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wheeler and Bridgewater 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%	12.4%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Wheeler 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%	15.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Bridgewater and Wheeler 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	$59,688±$14kHighest 31% below NY
	Wheeler and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$7kLowest 79% below NY	$119,400±$16kHighest 72% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$20Lowest 55% below NY	$1,341±$150Highest 17% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,546Lowest 61% below NY	$2,573Highest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	15.4%±36.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wheeler and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.3%Lowest NY: 14%	35%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 28% below NY	32 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	5.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	21.8%±23.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wheeler 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.