Compare towns
Alstead vs Springfield 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
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Springfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
9,084Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Springfield 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. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Springfield 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.