Compare towns
Alstead vs Brighton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brighton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Alstead 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 20% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | Brighton School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.