What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% 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	Marlborough	Bridgewater
People
Population	2,207Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Marlborough and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH
	Bridgewater and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Marlborough and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 5% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Marlborough and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Marlborough and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlborough 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.