Compare towns
Effingham vs Gilsum 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 the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Gilsum | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
716Lowest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
44.8±8.1Lowest 3% 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 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% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3% NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Gilsum 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 |
$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Gilsum 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 |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% 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 |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
— |
| Gilsum 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 |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Gilsum 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% |
13.4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7Lowest 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 | Monadnock Regional 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.