Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bristol vs Dover
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 the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Bristol | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,273 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bristol 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 |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
| Dover 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±$65k about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Bristol 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Bristol 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.