Compare towns
Braintree vs Thornton 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 renters (19% rent).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Bridgewater has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Braintree | Thornton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,799Highest |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Lowest 31% 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% |
13.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Thornton 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 |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$218,300±$55k 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$850±$778 40% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Braintree 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Thornton 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.