Compare towns
Alstead vs Lee 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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 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 | Lee | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
5,719Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Lowest 42% 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% |
12.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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 20% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Lee 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 18% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Lee and Bridgewater 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. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lee | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.