What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bath	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,097Lowest	1,169Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Bath and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH
	Bridgewater and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Bath and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,413Highest 34% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bridgewater and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bath and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Bath School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.