Compare towns
Alstead vs Marlow 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%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Marlow | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
855Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
52.8±11.7Lowest 22% 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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Marlow 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% |
33.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Marlow 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 |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Marlow and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Marlow 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.