Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Windham vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most renters (20.3% rent).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Windham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
19,188Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Windham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Jefferson 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 14 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
U.S. 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.