Compare towns
Plainfield vs Middlesex vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Middlesex | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.8±4.2 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Middlesex 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 12% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$44,850±$12kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$89,900±$7kLowest 73% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$736±$20Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,546Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.8%±28.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.