Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Hanover
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bridgewater | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%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% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| 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%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| High school 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.