Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Springfield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Springfield 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. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Bridgewater and Springfield 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.