What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

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	Wheelock
People
Population	1,310Highest	717Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.8±4.2Lowest 8% below U.S.	51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%	18.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bridgewater and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Wheelock 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.	$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Wheelock 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 73% below U.S.	$189,600±$37kHighest 43% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$736±$20 48% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,546Lowest 18% below U.S.	$2,937Highest 6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.8%±28.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 11% below U.S.	28 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	5.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wheelock 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

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.