Compare towns

Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Brookline

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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureBarnardBridgewaterBrookline
People
Population
1,211
980Lowest
5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71k
21% above U.S.
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
Brookline and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038
94% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bridgewater and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline 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 — — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 — Brookline School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.