Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Stoddard vs Temple vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Stoddard | Temple | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,072Lowest |
1,363 |
1,551Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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 17% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,107±$15k 5% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Stoddard and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Temple and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH |
— |
| Temple and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
$6,983Highest 5% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Temple and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Stoddard School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.