Compare towns

Hampton Beach vs Gorham vs Bridgewater

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (79.7%).

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.

MeasureHampton BeachGorhamBridgewater
People
Population
2,605
2,682Highest
1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.1%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
53.9±3.6Lowest
24% above NH
58.3±6.3
35% above NH
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
12.5%±3.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
10.8%±3.5
NH: 18.2%
Gorham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
31.7%±6.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
33.1%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34%Highest
NH: 40.6%
20.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
32.8%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
6.7%±2.8Highest
NH: 6%
1.3%±1.2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,557±$17kHighest
17% below NH
$61,275±$7kLowest
38% below NH
$82,361±$9k
17% below NH
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$508,900±$76kHighest
26% above NH
$161,600±$49kLowest
60% below NH
$398,600±$65k
about the NH average
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,375±$130Highest
8% below NH
$838±$83Lowest
44% below NH
$1,125±$201
25% below NH
Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,115Highest
8% below NH
$4,334
35% below NH
$2,823Lowest
58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
41%±20.3
NH: 48.2%
32.1%±13.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
NH: 7.2%
4.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
71.6%
NH: 72.8%
79.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below NH
23 minLowest
15% below NH
30 minHighest
13% above NH
Work from home
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
8%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #57 of 120 in NH —
School district — Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Newfound Area School District
High school in town — Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
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.