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Freedom vs Willow

159 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (31.5× in Freedom) and conserved land (+54.3 pts in Freedom).

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Freedom, WIAn outdoors townForest County · 462 people

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Willow, WIA small town of 378Richland County · 378 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

FreedomAn outdoors town

Outdoors57.3% conserved land25 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 79%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Freedom →

WillowA small town of 378

Quiet strengthsWillow doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Willow →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Freedom has more miles of trail

Freedom 25.2 miWillow 0.8 mi

Conserved land+54.3 pts

Freedom has more conserved land

Freedom 57.3%Willow 3%

Seasonal homes+39.5 pts

Freedom has more second homes

Freedom 64.5%Willow 25%

Average commute16 min

Willow has the shorter commute

Freedom 42 minWillow 26 min

Property tax bill+22%

Tax bills are bigger in Willow

Willow $2,958Freedom $2,425

★ What stands out · Life in each

Freedom gets 40 more inches of snow a year

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

FreedomWillow

Snow a year80″40″

January low4°F 8°F

July high73°F 82°F

Growing season (days)131d 154d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)16th 74th

Outdoors & history

FreedomWillow

Trails25 mi 1 mi

Conserved land57.3%3%

Community

FreedomWillow

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Freedom$1,490/mo

Typical home $246K (Census) · tax rate 0.98% · or rent about $647/mo · Housing →

Willow$1,480/mo

Typical home $235K (Census) · tax rate 1.26% · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health

A−FreedomHealthier than 79% of U.S. towns –WillowNot graded

Where they are

159 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FreedomForest County WillowRichland County

Freedom ↔ Willow159 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

FreedomWillow

People

Population 462Highest 378Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — -14.3% WI: +3.6%

Median age 53.5±2.8Highest 33% above WI 52.8±6.1Lowest 31% above WI

Freedom and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 14.1%±5.1Lowest WI: 21.4% 22%±4.5Highest WI: 21.4%

Willow and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 33.3%±5.2Highest WI: 18.5% 26.2%±4.6Lowest WI: 18.5%

Freedom and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.6%Highest WI: 33.4% 25.9%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.5Highest WI: 5.8% 1.1%±1.3Lowest WI: 5.8%

Freedom and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $56,500±$10kLowest 27% below WI $63,125±$19kHighest 19% below WI

Willow and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $246,300±$32kHighest 8% below WI $235,300±$50kLowest 12% below WI

Freedom and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $647±$618 40% below WI —

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,425Lowest 36% below WI $2,958Highest 22% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 14.3%±84.1Highest WI: 43.7% 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7%

Freedom and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 10.4%Highest WI: 10.6% 5.6%Lowest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 88.3% WI: 67.8% 88.3% WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1985Highest 10 yrs newer than WI 1976Lowest 1 yr newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 42 minHighest 88% above WI 26 minLowest 17% above WI

Work from home 10.5%±7.5Lowest WI: 13.1% 17.2%±14.2Highest WI: 13.1%

Willow and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.7%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 21.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.06Highest 0.05Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Wabeno (16%)Richland Center (23%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WillowFew work in Freedom

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 57.3%Highest 3%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 25.2 miHighest 0.8 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.7Lowest 2.1Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #113 of 262 in WI—

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Freedom neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freedom’s Town Square.

Willow neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Willow’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Freedom and Willow

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Freedom

Nashville1,229 people · $219K homes

Wolf River738 people · $193K homes

Wabeno937 people · $179K homes

Laona1,320 people · $192K homes

Towns like Freedom

Grant487 people · $233K homes

Brule545 people · $227K homes

Fountain438 people · $288K homes

Big Bend478 people · $255K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.