Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Newfane vs Putnam

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% 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.

MeasureBridgewaterNewfanePutnam
People
Population
980
1,456Highest
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
54.4±3.9
40% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Lowest
38% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Newfane 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%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Putnam 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%
29.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and Putnam 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.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
$284,200±$49kHighest
15% below U.S.
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Newfane and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
$1,266±$238Highest
10% below U.S.
—
Newfane and Bridgewater 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.
$5,174Highest
66% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.7%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
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%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — West River Valley Union Education District #72A PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.