Compare towns
Alstead vs Stoddard 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%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
53±4Lowest 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% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest 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% |
34.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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 35% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
$4,316 35% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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 | Stoddard School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.