Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bristol vs Stoddard
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Bristol | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
3,273Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4 22% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
| Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Bristol 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 |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$4,316Highest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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 | Stoddard School District |
| 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 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.