Compare towns

Plainfield vs Exeter vs Bridgewater

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($80k 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.

MeasurePlainfieldExeterBridgewater
People
Population
1,016Highest
913
543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-14.4%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
—
Median age
34.5±6.6
13% below NY
51.7±12.6Highest
30% above NY
33.1±6.8Lowest
17% below NY
Exeter 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
NY: 20.5%
21%±6.4
NY: 20.5%
Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.5%±2.7
NY: 17.9%
26.9%±10.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
12%±7.2Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Exeter 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%
28.2%Highest
NY: 40.2%
10.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.9%±11.2Highest
NY: 7%
1%±1.9Lowest
NY: 7%
5.9%±3.5
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±$6k
18% below NY
$77,550±$19kHighest
10% below NY
$35,694±$8kLowest
58% below NY
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$155,100±$17k
63% below NY
$243,000±$89kHighest
43% below NY
$80,000±$43kLowest
81% below NY
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$750±$207
54% below NY
$867±$44Highest
47% below NY
$735±$16Lowest
55% below NY
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,667
59% below NY
$2,926Highest
56% below NY
$2,167Lowest
67% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.6%±43.5Highest
NY: 52.1%
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
3.1%±38.6
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%
NY: 14%
4.3%Lowest
NY: 14%
28.7%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%
NY: 54.3%
97.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
69.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1948Lowest
11 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% below NY
29 min
12% below NY
25 minLowest
25% below NY
Work from home
11.5%±4.7
NY: 14.9%
14.4%±10.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.8%±3.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.