Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
648Lowest |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Nelson 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 about the NH average |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
— |
| Nelson and Bridgewater 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Nelson 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 History | 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.