Compare towns
Freedom vs Epping vs Ossipee vs Effingham
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 oldest population (median age 60.6).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Epping | Ossipee | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,521 |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Ossipee 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Epping and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Epping and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Epping and Ossipee 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 |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Ossipee 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Freedom 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Epping School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.