Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gray 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 most expensive homes ($399k median).
Gray has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Gray | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
8,429Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% 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% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray 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% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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 about the U.S. average |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Gray 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 20% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Gray 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. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Gray and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gray 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 | — | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.