Compare towns
Ossipee vs Swanzey vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.
| Measure | Ossipee | Swanzey | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
7,398Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Lowest 15% above NH |
50±3.1Lowest 15% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Swanzey and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$81,595±$11k 18% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Ossipee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
— |
| Ossipee and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 34% below NH |
$5,558Highest 17% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Swanzey 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.