What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).

Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($399k 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	Auburn	Bridgewater
People
Population	6,119Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+20%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
Kids under 18	19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Auburn and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH	$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Auburn and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,092Highest 21% above NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bridgewater and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#44 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Auburn School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.