What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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	1,314Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.1±5.5Lowest 12% above VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT	$70,272±$3kHighest 13% below VT
	Bridgewater and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,806Highest 5% below VT	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the VT average	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	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

VT 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.