Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Eliot vs Jefferson
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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Eliot has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Eliot | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
7,146Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Eliot 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 |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,549Highest 46% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.