Compare towns
Freedom vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Effingham has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
6,758Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Freedom and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Freedom 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% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Freedom 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 |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Meredith and Effingham 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Meredith and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Meredith and Effingham 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 |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.