Compare towns
Effingham vs Freedom vs Washington
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 the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Freedom has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Washington has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
1,494 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Freedom and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Washington 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% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington 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 |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH |
| Washington 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 20% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Freedom and Washington 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 |
— | $1,106±$160Highest 26% below NH |
| Washington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | Washington 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.