What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($90k 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.

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

Measure	Plainfield	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,016Lowest	1,310Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY	35.8±4.2Highest 10% below NY
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.8%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	15%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	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	$70,673±$6kHighest 18% below NY	$44,850±$12kLowest 48% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,100±$17kHighest 63% below NY	$89,900±$7kLowest 79% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$207Highest 54% below NY	$736±$20Lowest 55% below NY
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Highest 59% below NY	$2,546Lowest 61% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1%	6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	18.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	23 minLowest 28% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	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

NY 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.