Compare towns
Barnard vs Salem 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 the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Salem | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
30,964Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Salem and Barnard 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 |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Salem 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Salem 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.