Compare towns
Freedom vs Madison vs Effingham vs Ossipee
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).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
2,680 |
1,912 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%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 |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Freedom and Madison 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% |
19.5%±4.5 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% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Madison 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 |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
| Madison 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±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% 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±$256 4% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Madison 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 |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,401 34% 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% |
72%±16.3 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% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest 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 |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Freedom School District | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.