Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Freedom has the most kids (12.9% 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 | Jackson | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
897Lowest |
1,494Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Lowest 35% above NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Freedom and Bridgewater 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% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
— |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Jackson School District | Freedom 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 | 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.