What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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	Madison
People
Population	1,169Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH
	Bridgewater and Madison 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%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Madison 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±$9kLowest 17% below NH	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH
	Bridgewater and Madison 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	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
	Madison 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	$4,074Highest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Bridgewater 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%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	8%±3.3 NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4 NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Newfound Area School District	Madison 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.