Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Putnam vs Newfane
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%).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Putnam | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980 |
540Lowest |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Lowest 38% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% 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% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kHighest 15% 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. |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% 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. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.