Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Alstead vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (79.7%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Alstead | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605Highest |
1,551 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
56±3.3Lowest 29% above NH |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kHighest 17% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
— | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.