Compare towns

Braintree 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

Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

MeasureBraintreeOssipeeBridgewater
People
Population
1,026
4,521Highest
980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.4±2.4Highest
50% above U.S.
50±4.6Lowest
29% above U.S.
57.1±8
47% above U.S.
Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
Ossipee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.2%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.3Lowest
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
$79,803±$5k
about the U.S. average
$90,521±$22kHighest
12% above U.S.
$70,272±$3kLowest
13% below U.S.
Ossipee and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$28kLowest
35% below U.S.
$325,500±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$218,300±$55k
34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$840±$405Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$850±$778
40% below U.S.
Ossipee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908
25% above U.S.
$4,401Highest
41% above U.S.
$3,418Lowest
10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±29.4Lowest
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
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Braintree 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 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.