Compare towns
Alstead vs Berlin 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
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
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.
| Measure | Alstead | Berlin | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
9,383Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Berlin and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$3,437 48% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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 | — | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Berlin School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.