What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Lancaster
People
Population	1,169Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Bridgewater and Lancaster 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%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bridgewater and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Lancaster 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±$9kHighest 17% below NH	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Bridgewater and Lancaster 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	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH
	Bridgewater and Lancaster 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	$4,226Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lancaster and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lancaster and Bridgewater 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	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.