Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton Beach vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the most kids (14.6% 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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,605 |
10,101Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7Lowest 18% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton and Alstead 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school 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.