Compare towns
Freedom vs Brighton vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Effingham has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Freedom | Brighton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
1,167Lowest |
1,912Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% 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 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14k 18% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below 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 | — | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478 12% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 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 | Freedom School District | Brighton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.