Compare towns

Effingham vs Salisbury 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
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.

MeasureEffinghamSalisburyFreedom
People
Population
1,912Highest
1,609
1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+15.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
46.9±12.4Lowest
8% above NH
51.5±4.5
19% above NH
60.6±3.2Highest
40% above NH
Kids under 18
19.5%±4.5
NH: 18.2%
20.1%±9.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.9%±5.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Salisbury 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
NH: 20.1%
24.9%±4
NH: 20.1%
40.3%±4.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.3%
NH: 40.6%
39.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±0.8Lowest
NH: 6%
2%±1.1Highest
NH: 6%
1.3%±1.5
NH: 6%
Salisbury 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
$111,591±$17kHighest
13% above NH
$66,136±$14kLowest
33% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,700±$30kLowest
20% below NH
$363,400±$47k
10% below NH
$389,000±$43kHighest
3% below NH
Freedom and Salisbury 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
$1,917±$632Highest
29% above NH
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,163
23% below NH
$5,859Highest
12% below NH
$3,478Lowest
48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.6%±40.4
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
79.6%±75Highest
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%
7.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
96.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Lowest
3 yrs newer than NH
1982Lowest
3 yrs newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
18% above NH
32 minHighest
20% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
16.1%±4.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
23.3%±10.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
18.5%±7.6
NH: 16.8%
Salisbury 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 Merrimack Valley 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.