Compare towns
Freedom vs Effingham vs Porter
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).
Effingham has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Porter has the most affordable homes ($226k median).
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 | Effingham | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
1,912Highest |
1,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
40.9±7.9Lowest 5% 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Porter 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
14%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Porter 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. |
$76,607±$14kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$60,417±$9kLowest 25% 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. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$226,100±$20kLowest 32% 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 | — | $1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478 12% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$1,841Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.4Lowest 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 | 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 | 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.