Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Epping vs Jefferson
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 renters (20.3% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
7,430Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Jefferson 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
| Epping 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 25% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Jefferson 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Epping School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.