Compare towns
Middleton vs Freedom vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the highest household income ($102k).
Freedom has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Middleton | Freedom | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595 |
1,494Lowest |
1,912Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Middleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Middleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504Highest 17% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Middleton School District | Freedom School District | 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 |
NH 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.