Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Campton vs Thornton
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).
Campton has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Campton | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,407Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
49.2±3.7Lowest 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Thornton 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% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Campton and Thornton 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%±10.9 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Campton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
| Campton and Thornton 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 |
$356,300±$38k 11% below NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Campton 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 |
— | $1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
| Thornton 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 |
$6,028Highest 10% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Thornton 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% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Campton 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 | — | #68 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Campton School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.