What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (28.5% under 18).

Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).

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	Bristol	Bridgewater
People
Population	2,098Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
Kids under 18	28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,993±$24kLowest 25% below NH	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH
	Bridgewater and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,686Highest 45% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bristol and Bridgewater 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	#79 of 120 in NH	—
School district	—	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.