Compare towns
Bristol vs Effingham 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
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Bristol | Effingham | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,912 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Bristol and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 38% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Effingham 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.