Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hooksett vs Braintree 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Braintree | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,026 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Bridgewater 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$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±$55k 34% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778 40% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Braintree 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Braintree 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 | — | Hooksett School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.