Compare towns
Effingham vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,943Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 5% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Effingham 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Freedom 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.