Compare towns
Alstead vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
648Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Alstead 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Nelson 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson 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.