Compare towns
Alstead vs Westminster 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
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Westminster | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Highest |
497Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Westminster 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. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Westminster 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. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.