Compare towns
Barnard vs Bethlehem 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
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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.
| Measure | Barnard | Bethlehem | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
2,537Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.