What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Bridgewater	Plainfield
People
Population	980Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater 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%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest 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.	$70,673±$6kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kHighest 34% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Highest 40% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Highest 10% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Lowest 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%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater 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.