Compare towns
Effingham vs Bennington 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
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Effingham | Bennington | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
1,588 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Bennington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% 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 | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
— |
| Bennington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 23% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.