What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

Hampton has the youngest population (median age 43.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Hampton
People
Population	980Lowest	1,145Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Hampton 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.	$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kHighest 34% below U.S.	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.
	Bridgewater and Hampton 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.	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Highest 10% above U.S.	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.