Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Norwich 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%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Norwich | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest 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% |
81%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% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
— |
| Norwich and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Alstead 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Norwich 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 | 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.