Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 57.1).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Keene | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
22,939Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Barnard and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bridgewater and Keene 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.