Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Durham vs Alstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
15,080Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
56±3.3 29% 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%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.