Compare towns
Alstead vs Bristol vs Freedom
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Bristol | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
3,273Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Freedom 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% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol 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±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% below NH |
| Bristol and Freedom 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 |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Alstead 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.