What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Effingham has the most kids (19.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freedom	Effingham
People
Population	1,494Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	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 NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
	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	$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH	$76,607±$14kHighest 23% below NH
	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 3% below NH	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH
	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±$121 27% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Lowest 48% below NH	$5,163Highest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Lowest 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	15%Highest NH: 7.2%	9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	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	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.