Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Eliot vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Eliot | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Eliot 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 about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.