Compare towns
Alstead vs Bridgewater vs Hooksett
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 the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,169Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% 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%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett 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% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett 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 | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None 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.