Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton Beach 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
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
2,605Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater 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 |
$82,557±$17kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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±$65k about the NH average |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.