Compare towns
Freedom vs Effingham vs Washington vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Effingham has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Washington | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494 |
1,912Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
| Freedom and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Cornish 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% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Washington and Cornish 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±$14k 23% below NH |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$91,821±$2kHighest 7% below NH |
| Cornish and Washington 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±$30k 20% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Freedom and Washington 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 |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
$1,221±$227Highest 18% below NH |
| Cornish and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Cornish 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
32 min 18% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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 | Washington School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.