Compare towns
Holderness vs Bridgewater vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Holderness | Bridgewater | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917 |
1,169Lowest |
2,203Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Madbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Holderness 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±$65k about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Bridgewater 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923 41% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Holderness 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 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.