Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Madbury vs Freedom vs Moultonborough
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1982).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Moultonborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.6%).
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 | Center Harbor | Madbury | Freedom | Moultonborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,203 |
1,494 |
5,126Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+21.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
58.3±4.5 35% 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
35.3%±5.8 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% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.4%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Moultonborough and Madbury 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 |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$106,693±$18k 8% above NH |
| Madbury and Moultonborough 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
$644,200±$120kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
— | $1,452±$491Lowest about the NH average |
| Madbury and Moultonborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$3,479 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±23.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Madbury 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
23%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Moultonborough 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 | — | — | — | #36 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Freedom School District | Moultonborough School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Moultonborough Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.