Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Walpole vs Jefferson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Walpole | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
3,690Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Jefferson 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 |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% 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±$48k 21% below NH |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% 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±$201 25% below NH |
$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% 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 |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater 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 | 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.