Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Hooksett | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
5,876Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$101,053±$25kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barnard 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. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Hooksett 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. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,960 59% above U.S. |
$6,038Highest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Hooksett 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.