Compare towns
Freedom vs Madison vs Effingham 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%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Madison | Effingham | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
2,680Highest |
1,912 |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
| Freedom and Cornish 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Effingham 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Madison 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 |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
| Madison and Cornish 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 |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
| Madison and Cornish 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 |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Madison 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% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 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 | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.