Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Keene vs New Hampton
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).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Keene | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
22,939Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Bridgewater and New 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% |
14.1%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Keene and New Hampton 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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 |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Bridgewater 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% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and New 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Keene School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.