What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

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	Madbury	Freedom
People
Population	2,203Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Madbury and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH	$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH	$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759 6% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Freedom 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.