Compare towns
Alstead vs Dalton 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Dalton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
6,256Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Dalton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Dalton 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 20% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Central Berkshire | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.