Compare towns

Bristol vs Bridgewater vs New Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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.

MeasureBristolBridgewaterNew Hampton
People
Population
3,273Highest
1,169Lowest
2,509
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.1%
NH: +4.6%
+9.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.7±5.7Lowest
about the NH average
58.3±6.3Highest
35% above NH
51.7±2.7
19% above NH
Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.3%±6.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
10.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
13.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
Bristol and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±4.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
33.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
24.8%±5
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
32.8%
NH: 40.6%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2
NH: 6%
1.3%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
New Hampton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,438±$10kLowest
21% below NH
$82,361±$9k
17% below NH
$95,250±$35kHighest
4% below NH
New Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$258,300±$63kLowest
36% below NH
$398,600±$65kHighest
about the NH average
$383,700±$37k
5% below NH
Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,310±$97Highest
12% below NH
$1,125±$201
25% below NH
$749±$433Lowest
50% 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
$4,162
38% below NH
$2,823Lowest
58% below NH
$4,973Highest
25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±14.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
32.1%±13.6
NH: 48.2%
21.3%±21.6Lowest
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
10.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.9%
NH: 7.2%
13.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
79.7%
NH: 72.8%
87.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above NH
30 min
13% above NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
11.8%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
8%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.9%±3.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
New Hampton and Bristol 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 Newfound Area School District Newfound Area School District
High school in town Newfound Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.