Compare towns
Effingham vs Ossipee vs Upton 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%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Ossipee | Upton | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912 |
4,521 |
8,189Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ossipee and Upton 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. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Ossipee 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Freedom 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.