Compare towns
Chatham vs Bridgewater vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Sharon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Chatham | Bridgewater | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
1,169Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 45% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1979 same as NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sharon and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.