What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Freedom
People
Population	2,183Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Ashland and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH	$66,136±$14kHighest 33% below NH
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH	$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Highest 26% below NH	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	15%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Ashland School District	Freedom School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.