Compare towns
New Hampton vs Durham vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | New Hampton | Durham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,509 |
15,080Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| Durham and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.