What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bridgewater	Alstead
People
Population	1,169Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH	56±3.3Lowest 29% 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	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Lowest 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+	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
	Bridgewater and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$201 25% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH	$5,322Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Newfound Area School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.