Compare towns

Freedom vs Ogunquit vs Plainfield vs Effingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureFreedomOgunquitPlainfieldEffingham
People
Population
1,494
1,379Lowest
2,522Highest
1,912
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.6±3.2
56% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
46.9±12.4
21% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.9%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
40.3%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Ogunquit 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
18% below U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$76,607±$14k
5% below U.S.
Plainfield and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$389,000±$43k
17% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$322,700±$30kLowest
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — —
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,090±$121Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,478Lowest
12% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
79.6%±75Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
13.6%±40.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Freedom and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
32 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
18.5%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #19 of 120 in NH —
School district Freedom School District — Plainfield 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 None yet

U.S. 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.