Compare towns
New Milford vs Plainfield vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Milford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($693k median).
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 | New Milford | Plainfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,334Highest |
15,141 |
1,658Lowest |
| Median age | 42.1±1.9 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
55.9±4.4Highest 36% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| New Milford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
37%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
59.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±5.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,411±$8k 11% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$159,365±$5kHighest 66% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,500±$10k 7% above CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$693,000±$75kHighest 89% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$152Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,467±$233 about the CT average |
| New Milford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,150 7% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,869Highest 3% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±13.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.8%±43 CT: 52.6% |
| New Milford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1975Highest 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.5 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
25.2%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #110 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | New Milford School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | New Milford High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.