Compare towns
Freedom vs Hanover vs Cornish
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
| Freedom and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.