Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Salisbury 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 the most homeowners (79.7%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Salisbury | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Lowest 32% 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% |
13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
43.8%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% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Triton | 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.