Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bennington vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Bridgewater | Bennington | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,588Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.