Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gorham vs Canaan vs Washington
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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Gorham | Canaan | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,682 |
3,811Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Washington 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% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Gorham 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 |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
| Washington 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 |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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 |
$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Canaan 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 |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.