What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Freedom	Ryegate
People
Population	1,494Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ryegate 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 18% below U.S.	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Ryegate and Freedom 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.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$908±$236 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,478Highest 12% above U.S.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freedom and Ryegate 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%	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Freedom and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Freedom School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.