Compare towns
Madison vs Belvidere vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the highest household income ($103k).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Freedom has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Madison | Belvidere | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
422Lowest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Madison and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$81,563±$18k about the U.S. average |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Madison and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,542±$1kLowest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Madison and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Madison School District | — | Freedom School District |
| High school 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.