What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wirt has the most kids (28.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Wirt
People
Population	1,310Highest	1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	35.8±4.2Lowest 10% below NY	38.9±8.1Highest about the NY average
	Wirt and Bridgewater 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%	28.7%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wirt and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	15.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Wirt 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Bridgewater and Wirt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$44,850±$12kHighest 48% below NY	$42,243±$14kLowest 51% below NY
	Bridgewater and Wirt are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$7kHighest 79% below NY	$81,600±$9kLowest 81% below NY
	Bridgewater and Wirt 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	$742±$50Highest 54% below NY
	Wirt 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	$2,617Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.2%±6.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wirt 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%	21.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 28% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	5.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wirt and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	BOLIVAR-RICHBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.