What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% 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	Madison	Freedom
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH
	Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Madison and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH	$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH	$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH
	Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256 4% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 39% below NH	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Lowest NH: 48.2%	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	91%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison 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.