Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Exeter 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 the most homeowners (79.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above 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%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.