Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hooksett vs Meredith
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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Hooksett | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Meredith 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% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Meredith 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Hooksett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.