Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Durham vs Hampton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
15,080 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Bridgewater 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Hampton 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampton 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.