Compare towns
Alstead vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Hampton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
16,426Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
55.8±2.1Lowest 29% 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%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton 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% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Hampton 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 |
$95,233±$9kHighest 4% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Hampton and Bridgewater 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.