Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Bristol vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($258k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,273 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bristol 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.