Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hooksett vs Newfane 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 (+10.6%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Newfane | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,456 |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% 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% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$3k 13% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below 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. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% 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±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% 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. |
$5,174 66% 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% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Newfane 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs 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 |
27 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% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Barnard 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.