What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has the most people working from home (11.9%).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

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	Gilsum	Bridgewater
People
Population	716Lowest	1,169Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Gilsum and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilsum and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH
	Bridgewater and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Gilsum and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 16% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Gilsum and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock Regional School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None 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.