Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Jay vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Jay has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Jay | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
4,657Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,238±$19kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| 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 53% above U.S. |
$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| 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 96% above U.S. |
$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,823 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.