Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Exeter | Plainfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
913Lowest |
1,016 |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Exeter 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 10% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Plainfield 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.