Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Lincoln 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).
Lincoln has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureBridgewaterLincolnNew Hampton
People
Population
1,169Lowest
1,461
2,509Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.1%
NH: +4.6%
-1.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.3±6.3Highest
35% above NH
46.8±10.1Lowest
8% above 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%
19.4%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
13.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
Lincoln 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%
28.3%±7
NH: 20.1%
24.8%±5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bridgewater and Lincoln 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%
38.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
1.6%±1.7
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
New Hampton and Lincoln 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
$70,625±$54kLowest
29% 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
$342,000±$38kLowest
15% 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
$1,143±$498Highest
23% below NH
$749±$433Lowest
50% below NH
Lincoln 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
$2,984
55% below NH
$4,973Highest
25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±13.6
NH: 48.2%
49.7%±26Highest
NH: 48.2%
21.3%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Lincoln 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%
6.2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
13.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%
NH: 72.8%
72%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
same as NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
8%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.3%±8.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.9%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
Lincoln and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Newfound Area School District Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District Newfound Area School District
High school in town None in town Lin-Wood Public School (High) None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.4
—
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.