Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Freedom vs Ossipee
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).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Freedom | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,494 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% 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% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Lowest 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% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee 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 |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Ossipee 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 |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% 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 | — | — | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Highest 30% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor 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 | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Freedom School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.