What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).

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

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	Jefferson	Freedom
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,494Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Jefferson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kHighest 32% below NH	$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH
	Jefferson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH	$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156 42% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Highest 37% below NH	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 29% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Freedom School District
High school 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.