Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bristol vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Bristol has the most renters (30.3% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,273Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 about the U.S. average |
$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 20% above U.S. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823 9% below U.S. |
$4,162Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.