Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Alstead vs Bristol vs Jefferson
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,551 |
3,273Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
58±3.5 34% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Bridgewater 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4% 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% |
2.2%±1.5 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±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$67,188±$13k 32% 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±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
— | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% 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 |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 | 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.