Compare towns
Effingham vs Freedom vs Andover vs Ossipee
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%).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Andover has the youngest population (median age 46).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Freedom | Andover | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,494Lowest |
2,135 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
46±11.6Lowest 6% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.1%±7.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Andover 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 |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$88,514±$27k 11% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
| Ossipee and Andover 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 |
$366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Freedom and Andover 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 |
— | $1,211±$190 19% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Andover 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 |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$5,962Highest 11% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.4% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±5 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Freedom School District | Andover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.