Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gorham vs Freedom vs Stoddard
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 expensive homes ($399k median).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Freedom has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Stoddard has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Gorham | Freedom | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
2,682Highest |
1,494 |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
53±4Lowest 22% 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% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Stoddard 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 |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% below NH |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
| Stoddard 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 |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% 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±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
— | $895±$751 40% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
$4,334Highest 35% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Stoddard 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Stoddard 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Freedom School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.