What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most kids (14.7% under 18).

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	Holderness	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,917Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Holderness and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bridgewater and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Holderness and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH
	Holderness and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
	Bridgewater and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Highest 41% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bridgewater and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Holderness and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.