Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Enfield vs Gorham vs Bristol
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).
Enfield has the highest household income ($99k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Enfield | Gorham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,994 |
2,682 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
58.1±20 34% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Enfield 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% |
11.5%±8.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.1% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±7.3 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Enfield 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 |
$99,330±$21kHighest about the NH average |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Enfield 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 |
$277,900±$56k 31% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Enfield 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 |
— | $838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% 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 |
$4,779Highest 28% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
14.6%±17.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Gorham 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% |
23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.5% NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±9.6 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Enfield 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 | — | #5 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.