Compare towns
Freedom vs Ossipee vs Madison vs Center Harbor
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%).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k 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.
| Measure | Freedom | Ossipee | Madison | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494 |
4,521Highest |
2,680 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Madison 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 |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Madison 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH |
— |
| Ossipee and Madison 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 |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$4,667Highest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Madison School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.