Compare towns
Freedom vs Durham vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Freedom | Durham | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Durham and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Freedom School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.