Compare towns
Effingham vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Ware | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
10,048Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Ware 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%±3.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$14kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Ware 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% 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±$121Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— |
| Effingham and Ware 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Ware 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ware | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.