Compare towns
Plainfield vs Wayne 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
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Wayne | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
1,033 |
1,310Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 13% below NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
35.8±4.2 10% below NY |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest 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% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
15%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.6 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$44,850±$12kLowest 48% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$89,900±$7kLowest 79% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$736±$20Lowest 55% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$2,546Lowest 61% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
6.8%±28.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Plainfield and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
18.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
23 minLowest 28% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Plainfield and Wayne 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 | 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.