What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the youngest population (median age 43.1).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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	Hampton	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,145Highest	980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	57.1±8Highest 47% above U.S.
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.2%±0.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S.	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.	$218,300±$55kHighest 34% below U.S.
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.	$850±$778Lowest 40% below U.S.
	Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.	$3,418Highest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.7%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	14.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bridgewater and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.