Compare towns
Freedom vs Putney 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
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
| Putney 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±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer 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 |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.