Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bristol vs Holderness vs Freedom
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 most expensive homes ($399k median).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Holderness | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,273Highest |
1,917 |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Bridgewater 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% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Holderness 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±$10k 21% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Freedom 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 |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,162Highest 38% below NH |
$3,923 41% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom 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 | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Holderness School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.