What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

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

Measure	Freedom	Gilsum
People
Population	1,494Highest	716Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Freedom and Gilsum 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%	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Gilsum 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±$14kLowest 33% below NH	$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH
	Gilsum and Freedom 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	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,575±$894 6% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH	$5,579Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%	76.5%±55.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest NH: 7.2%	13.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.