Compare towns
Alstead vs Bridgewater vs Colebrook
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%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Bridgewater | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,169Lowest |
1,988Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.7±4.9Lowest 24% 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% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Colebrook and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% 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 |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Colebrook 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 |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,350 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.4 |
| 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.