Compare towns
Ossipee vs Appleton vs Freedom 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
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Ossipee | Appleton | Freedom | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,494 |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$66,136±$14k 18% below U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Freedom and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Freedom School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.