Compare towns

Barnard vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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.

MeasureBarnardOssipeeBridgewater
People
Population
1,211
4,521Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6Lowest
9% above U.S.
50±4.6
29% above U.S.
57.1±8Highest
47% above U.S.
Bridgewater and Ossipee 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%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Ossipee 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%
26.3%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bridgewater and Ossipee 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%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bridgewater and Ossipee 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.
$90,521±$22k
12% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
Barnard and Ossipee 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.
$325,500±$23k
about the U.S. average
$218,300±$55kLowest
34% below U.S.
Barnard and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$850±$778Lowest
40% below U.S.
Ossipee and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Highest
94% above U.S.
$4,401
41% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±39.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Ossipee 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%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Barnard and Bridgewater 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 — #100 of 120 in NH —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Governor Wentworth Regional School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.