Compare towns
Berlin vs Effingham 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
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Effingham has the highest household income ($77k).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Berlin | Effingham | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383Highest |
1,912 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Berlin and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$76,607±$14kHighest 23% below NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% below NH |
| Effingham and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,090±$121Highest 27% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Effingham 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 | #108 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Berlin School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2 |
— | — |
| 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.