Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,522 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Bristol 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Plainfield and Bridgewater 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Plainfield School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.