Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Fairlee
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).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Wolfeboro has the most kids (13.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Hampton | Wolfeboro | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
16,426Highest |
6,571 |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Lowest 43% above U.S. |
57±1.8 47% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7 44% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wolfeboro and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee 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. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.