What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has the most kids (19.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Effingham	Freedom
People
Population	1,912Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+13.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.9±12.4Lowest 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	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
	Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kHighest 23% below NH	$66,136±$14kLowest 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	$322,700±$30kLowest 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	$1,090±$121 27% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 23% below NH	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%
	Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Lowest 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	Freedom School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.