What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Walpole
People
Population	1,169Lowest	3,690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH
	Bridgewater and Walpole 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%	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	4%±2.8Highest NH: 6%
	Walpole and Bridgewater 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	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH
	Walpole 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±$65kHighest about the NH average	$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH
	Bridgewater and Walpole 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	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH
	Walpole 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	$6,078Highest 9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Walpole 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%	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	23 minLowest 13% below NH
Work from home	8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bridgewater and Walpole 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	—	#27 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.