Compare towns
Freedom vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Effingham has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Hooksett | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.9±12.4 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Hooksett 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Hooksett and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Effingham 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Hooksett 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 |
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.