Compare towns
Plymouth vs Bridgewater vs Marlborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Bridgewater | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,969Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46±9.2 6% 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 | 13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$32kHighest 10% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Plymouth and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,296±$295Highest 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Plymouth and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest about the NH average |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest 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 | 17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school 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.