What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).

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	Bridgewater	Freedom
People
Population	484Lowest	670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME	40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME
	Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Freedom and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	23.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME	$64,861±$12kLowest 13% below ME
	Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME	$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME
	Freedom and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$768±$116 33% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME	$2,328Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest ME: 10.7%	11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 10% below ME	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freedom and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.