Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Madbury vs Freedom vs New Hampton
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
New Hampton has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Madbury | Freedom | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,203 |
1,494 |
2,509Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% 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 |
51.7±2.7 19% 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 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% |
24.8%±5 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
| Madbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
— | $749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Madbury and New Hampton 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 |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and New Hampton 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% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% 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 |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Freedom School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.