Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Lee | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
4,576Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Lee 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±$65k about the NH average |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Lee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.