Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Mapleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3%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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823 9% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.