Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Strafford vs Wheeler
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 affordable homes ($90k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Wheeler has the most kids (40.9% 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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Strafford | Wheeler |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,310 |
1,372Highest |
1,195Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±4.2 8% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
33.3±13.6Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
40.9%±24.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheeler and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $44,850±$12kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$59,688±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$7kLowest 73% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$119,400±$16k 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $736±$20Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,341±$150Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Wheeler and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,546Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,573 18% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.8%±28.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
15.4%±36.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
35%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±23.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheeler and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.