Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Hampton Falls vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 Falls | Hooksett | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,328 |
15,057Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% 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%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Hooksett 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hooksett 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Hampton Falls School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.