Compare towns
Alstead vs Lancaster 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 people working from home (12.1%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Lancaster | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
3,216Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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 |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.