Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Dover vs Barnard
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 ($218k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% 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 | Dover | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
33,364Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Dover and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.