Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Highest |
897Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH |
| Jackson 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bridgewater and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.