What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Madbury has the most kids (29% 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	Madbury
People
Population	1,494Lowest	2,203Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	52.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Madbury 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	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH	$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,574±$759 6% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Madbury 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%	4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	Oyster River Coop 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.