Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton vs Rye
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%).
Hampton has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
55.1±3Lowest 27% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.