What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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	Chapman
People
Population	980Highest	388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	45.7±11.4Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bridgewater and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.	$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kHighest 34% below U.S.	$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S.
	Bridgewater and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778 40% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bridgewater and Chapman 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.