Compare towns
Alstead vs Conway vs Bridgewater
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).
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Conway | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
10,141Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
55±4.1Lowest 27% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above 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% |
12.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Conway 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% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Conway 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Conway 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 35% below NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| 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±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$314,000±$43k 22% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Conway 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 |
$4,087 39% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Conway 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% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Conway 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 | — | #76 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Conway School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.