What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

Ashland has the most kids (21.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freedom	Ashland
People
Population	1,494Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Ashland and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,136±$14kHighest 33% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,096±$155 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH	$4,961Highest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.