Compare towns

Bridgewater vs Deering vs Freedom

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 most renters (20.3% rent).
Deering has the most kids (17.3% 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.

MeasureBridgewaterDeeringFreedom
People
Population
1,169Lowest
1,938Highest
1,494
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.1%
NH: +4.6%
-0.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.3±6.3
35% above NH
48.8±5.7Lowest
13% above NH
60.6±3.2Highest
40% above NH
Freedom and Bridgewater 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%
17.3%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.9%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
Deering and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.1%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
23.9%±1.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
40.3%±4.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%
NH: 40.6%
31%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
39.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
1.6%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
Deering and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,361±$9k
17% below NH
$101,250±$16kHighest
about the NH average
$66,136±$14kLowest
33% below NH
Deering and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,600±$65kHighest
about the NH average
$309,900±$27kLowest
23% below NH
$389,000±$43k
3% below NH
Bridgewater and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$201Lowest
25% below NH
$1,306±$116Highest
12% below NH
—
Deering 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
$6,223Highest
7% below NH
$3,478
48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±13.6
NH: 48.2%
23.9%±27.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
79.6%±75Highest
NH: 48.2%
Freedom and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
14.3%
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.7%
NH: 72.8%
91%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
40 minHighest
49% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
8%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
10%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
18.5%±7.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Freedom and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Newfound Area 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 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.