Compare towns
Effingham vs Parsonsfield 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%).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Parsonsfield | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
1,715 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 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% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$72,045±$18k 11% below U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$272,100±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 23% below U.S. |
$1,185±$312Highest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Parsonsfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$3,478 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.