Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jefferson 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 highest household income ($82k).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
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.
| Measure | Bridgewater | Jefferson | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,013Lowest |
1,494Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
58±3.5Lowest 34% 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% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Jefferson 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±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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 |
$296,700±$92kLowest 26% 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±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
— |
| Bridgewater and Jefferson 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 |
$4,196Highest 37% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Jefferson 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.