Compare towns
Alstead vs Bridgewater vs Jefferson
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%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,169 |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Lowest 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jefferson 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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 |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.5%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 min 19% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Alstead 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 | — |
| High school 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.