Compare towns
Stoddard vs Freedom vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Freedom | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
1,494Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4 22% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Freedom and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
— | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 35% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Freedom School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.