What stands out worked out from the figures below

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

Bridgewater has the most kids (17.1% 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.

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

Measure	Patten	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,154Highest	484Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME
	Patten and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Bridgewater and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	27.5%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME	$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME
	Bridgewater and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME	$154,900±$78kHighest 48% below ME
	Bridgewater and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$1,417Highest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	12%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1971Highest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	22 minLowest 10% below ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten 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

ME 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.