Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Alstead vs Stoddard vs Bristol
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%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Stoddard | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,551 |
1,072Lowest |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
— | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% 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 |
$4,316 35% below NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 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 | Stoddard School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None 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.