Compare towns
Plainfield vs Orange 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
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Orange | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Highest |
957 |
543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6 11% below U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
33.1±6.8Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 12% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$35,694±$8kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Orange 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 53% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kHighest 33% below U.S. |
$80,000±$43kLowest 76% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$735±$16Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,545Highest 14% above U.S. |
$2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
3.1%±38.6 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
28.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| 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.