Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Salisbury vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% 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 | Salisbury | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
9,281Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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 about the U.S. average |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury 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±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,162 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Triton | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.