Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Sutton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,239 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Sutton 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 |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Sutton and Bristol 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.