Compare towns
Freedom vs Ripton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Ripton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
508Lowest |
1,912Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Ripton 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% |
48%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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 |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Freedom School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.