Compare towns
Alstead vs Sutton 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).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Sutton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551 |
2,239Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
48.1±4.1Lowest 11% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sutton and Alstead 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.