Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Rumney 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).
Rumney has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Freedom has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Stoddard has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Rumney | Freedom | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,458 |
1,494Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
53±4 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% |
18.7%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Rumney and Stoddard 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% |
24.1%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Rumney 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 |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 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 |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,064±$100 29% below NH |
— | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Rumney 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 |
$4,716Highest 29% 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% |
48.1%±21.3 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% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 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 |
33 min 22% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Rumney School District | Freedom School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.