Compare towns
Freedom vs Ossipee vs Williston
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 the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Ossipee | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
4,521 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,601±$245Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Freedom School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 |
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.

