Compare towns
Alstead vs Bridgewater vs Durham
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Alstead | Bridgewater | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,169Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below 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%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Alstead 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.