Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Mapleton vs Alstead vs Bristol
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,884 |
1,551 |
3,273Highest |
| 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% |
+6.2% 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. |
42.7±5.7 10% 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest 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% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bristol 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. |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823 9% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,162 33% 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% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Bristol 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7%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. |
1977 3 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. |
28 min 5% 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% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Bristol 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 | — | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.