What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).

South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).

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	South Hooksett
People
Population	1,169Lowest	5,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH
Kids under 18	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	South Hooksett 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%	13.5%±2.6Lowest 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%	14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH	$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average	$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH
	South Hooksett 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	$1,471±$217Highest about the NH average
	South Hooksett 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	$6,801Highest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±25Highest NH: 48.2%
	South Hooksett 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%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bridgewater and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfound Area School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.