Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Alstead 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Bridgewater and Putney 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% 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. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.