Compare towns
Bridgewater vs New Hampton vs Bristol
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).
New Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
Bristol has the most kids (28.5% 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | New Hampton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,509Highest |
2,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below 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% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$73,993±$24kLowest 25% 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 |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$237,400±$27kLowest 41% 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH |
| Bristol 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 |
$4,973Highest 25% below NH |
$3,686 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| New Hampton and Bristol 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 | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.