Compare towns
Alstead vs Stoddard vs Bristol
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 oldest population (median age 56).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,072Lowest |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Alstead and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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 |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Stoddard and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol 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 |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest 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% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and Bristol 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 | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Stoddard School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.