Compare towns
New Hampton vs Meredith 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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Meredith | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,509 |
6,758Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±2.7Lowest 19% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| New Hampton and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Meredith 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 |
$5,006Highest 25% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.