Bridgewater offers rural living in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region
Bridgewater is a small, secluded town on the eastern shore of Newfound Lake, a popular vacation destination within New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the Grafton County community was home to just under 1,200 year-round residents, though the population fluctuates throughout the year with seasonal visitors. The community is usually busiest during central Maine’s peak summer season in July and August. “There is a really strong lake-living community here, and people are vigilant about keeping the lake and river and forests clean from pollution,” says Margaret Duba, a local Realtor with Granite Group Realty Services and resident of neighboring Bristol, a larger community with a downtown area and grocery stores. A couple of local businesses and town municipal buildings line Mayhew Turnpike in Bridgewater, but the rest of the town is residential. “It’s very easy to relax here and it’s a great place to raise a family,” Duba says. “There are a couple of manufacturing employers in the area, but people will also commute to work in Concord and even Dartmouth.” Bridgewater has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4 and the lowest score possible on the index.
New England housing styles and waterfront homes
Single-family homes serve as full-time residences and vacation properties, with some rented out seasonally. Most houses were built during the second half of the 20th century, but new construction projects continue to break ground at a steady pace. “Common home styles in this area include a lot of classic New England architecture, including some Capes and colonial styles,” Duba says. A lot of homes are custom-built and feature Craftsman-style elements. Most single-family properties cost between $350,000 and $750,000, but waterfront estates with lake access can sell for well over $1 million. Buyers also have the opportunity to purchase undeveloped plots of land in Bridgewater so they can build a custom home.
Students served by the Newfound Area School District
Bristol students are zoned for the Newfound Area School District, which is also known as School Administration Unit No. 4 and receives an overall B-minus rating from Niche. Prekindergarten through fifth grade students can attend Bridgewater-Hebron Village School, which is rated B-plus. Newfound Memorial Middle School gets a B-minus score, while Newfound Regional High School is rated C-plus and offers Advanced Placement and Extended Learning Opportunities (ELO) programs. ELO helps students develop career-based skills through participation in internships, independent studies and job shadowing opportunities outside the school.
Four-season recreation between Newfound Lake and Bridgewater Mountain
Between Newfound Lake and the surrounding forests and hills, one of Bridgewater’s most prominent draws is its access to outdoor recreation. People can find things to do in all four seasons, including boating and fishing on the water in the summer, leaf peeping hikes in the fall and cross-country skiing treks in the winter. “Big mountains and downhill ski areas are within a 30- to 40-minute drive of residents,” Duba adds. Bridgewater has a couple of smaller sandy beaches in town, but on the opposite shore is the larger Wellington State Park Beach and public boat launch access. Bridgewater Mountain offers a scenic trail system and is popular for hiking, biking and snowmobiling, depending on the time of year. People can enjoy sweeping views of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region from the mountain's summit.
Country stores in Bridgewater and commercial variety in Bristol
Bridgewater’s commercial amenities are limited to two country stores and one restaurant, a Japanese steakhouse, attached to the Bridgewater Inn. Newfound Country Store is a gas station and convenience store with a deli, bakery, basic groceries and apparel items. Idle-a-While Country Antiques is a seasonal trinket shop that also serves ice cream. For most shopping and dining, however, people head to the neighboring town of Bristol, which is only a few miles away. Bristol’s downtown district—known as Central Square—is populated with local businesses, boutiques and cafes, while chains like Dollar General and Hannaford supermarket dot the surrounding area.
Commuters use state routes for daily travel
Bridgewater is a car-dependent community that lacks access to public transit options. New Hampshire Route 3A runs north-south through the town and connects to Bristol, where drivers can reach Interstate 93 from state Route 104; the access ramp to I-93 is about 10 miles from Bridgewater. Route 3A and Interstate 93 both connect to Concord, which is just over 40 miles south. Concord Hospital’s Franklin Campus has a 24-hour emergency department. Driving to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, the closest major commercial airport, takes less than an hour and a half.
