Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Temple vs Stoddard
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).
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Temple | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,363Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard and Temple 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
| Stoddard and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Temple and Bridgewater 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 |
$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Temple 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 |
$6,983Highest 5% above NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Temple and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None 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.