Compare towns
Freedom vs Mapleton vs Madison vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Madison | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
1,884 |
2,680 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Ossipee 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 18% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
| Madison and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478 12% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
$4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Freedom School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.