Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Jackson 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 youngest population (median age 60.4).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Jackson | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
897Lowest |
1,494Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Lowest 39% above NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor 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% |
28.4%±6.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Jackson 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±$16k 5% above NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Jackson and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%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 |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jackson 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.