What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	980Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,300±$55kLowest 34% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,418Lowest 10% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.7%±39.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.	1976 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	—	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.