What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most people working from home (14.9%).

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	Hancock	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,791Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Lowest 24% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bridgewater and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH	$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 3% above NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hancock and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	30 minLowest 13% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.