Compare towns
Alstead vs Monroe 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%).
Monroe has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
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 | Monroe | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
786Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
51±10.4Lowest 18% 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%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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 |
$88,150±$7kHighest 11% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Monroe 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 |
$312,700±$58k 22% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Monroe 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 |
$2,661Lowest 60% below NH |
$2,823 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48%±39 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Monroe 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest 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 | Monroe 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.