Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Alstead vs Stoddard vs Freedom
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Stoddard has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Freedom has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,551Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
53±4Lowest 22% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Bridgewater 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%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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±$9k 17% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% 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±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
— | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
— |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Alstead 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Alstead 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 | Stoddard School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.