Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Freedom vs Lee
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).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
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 | Freedom | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,494 |
4,576Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee 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±$65k about the NH average |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Freedom School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.