What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the most people working from home (8%).

Monroe 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	Monroe
People
Population	1,169Highest	786Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	51±10.4Lowest 18% above NH
	Bridgewater and Monroe 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%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Bridgewater 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%	30.3%±8.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bridgewater and Monroe 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%	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Bridgewater and Monroe 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	$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH
	Monroe 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	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH
	Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH
	Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,823Highest 58% below NH	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	48%±39Highest NH: 48.2%
	Monroe 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%	5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfound Area School District	Monroe 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.