Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Wolfeboro 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
57±1.8Lowest 32% 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% |
13.7%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Freedom 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% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro 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 |
$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Bridgewater and Wolfeboro 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 |
$4,531Highest 32% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest 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 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Freedom 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.