Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Middlesex vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 55% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$74kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Center Harbor and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 50% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.