Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ogunquit vs Alstead vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Alstead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Ogunquit | Alstead | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,379 |
1,551 |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Bridgewater 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 20% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
— | — | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Ashland 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Ashland 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 | 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.