Compare towns
Effingham vs Dudley vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
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 | Dudley | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
11,929Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dudley 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±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Dudley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.