What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).

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	Rome	Freedom
People
Population	1,215Highest	670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME	40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME
	Rome and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Freedom and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rome and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rome and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,639±$25kHighest 4% above ME	$64,861±$12kLowest 13% below ME
	Rome and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME	$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$56 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,829Lowest 40% below ME	$2,328Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4%	21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rome and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 21% above ME	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Freedom and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.