Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Middlesex vs Mendon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Mendon | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605Highest |
1,943 |
1,113Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Mendon 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above 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 |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.