Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Alstead vs Bristol vs New Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,551 |
3,273Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest 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 |
51.7±2.7 19% 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%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and New Hampton 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% |
24.8%±5 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton and Bridgewater 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 |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% 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 |
$4,973 25% 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% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 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 |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Alstead and New Hampton 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 | Newfound Area 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.