Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Temple 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).
Temple has the youngest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Temple | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,363 |
1,494Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
49.5±7.3Lowest 14% 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% |
14.3%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Temple 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Temple 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 |
$94,107±$15kHighest 5% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Temple 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 |
$401,000±$27kHighest about the NH average |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
| Temple and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,169±$523Highest 22% below NH |
— |
| Temple 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 |
$6,983Highest 5% above NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.