Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Cornish 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
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Center Harbor | Cornish | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,816Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
54±8.3Lowest 25% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Cornish and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cornish and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Cornish 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.