Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Leyden vs Newfane vs Braintree
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).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Braintree has the most renters (19% rent).
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 | Leyden | Newfane | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
637Lowest |
1,456Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2Lowest 37% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Leyden and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Leyden and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.