What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freedom	Stark
People
Population	1,494Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH	58.8±3.6Lowest 36% above NH
	Freedom and Stark 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%	14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stark and Freedom 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%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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	$71,750±$23kHighest 28% below NH
	Stark and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Highest 48% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Stark 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%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	Stark 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.