Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Alstead vs Bristol vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Bridgewater | Alstead | Bristol | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,551 |
3,273Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Ashland 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%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Alstead 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±$11k 35% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Bristol 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±$37k 33% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
— | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 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 | Newfound Area School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.