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Willow vs Freedom

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

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

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Freedom, WIAn outdoors townForest County · 462 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.

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 →

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 →

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

WillowFreedom

Snow a year40″80″

January low8°F 4°F

July high82°F 73°F

Growing season (days)154d 131d

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

Outdoors & history

WillowFreedom

Trails1 mi 25 mi

Conserved land3%57.3%

Community

WillowFreedom

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%

Willow$1,480/mo

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

Freedom$1,490/mo

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

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

Where they are

159 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

WillowRichland County FreedomForest County

Willow ↔ Freedom159 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

WillowFreedom

People

Population 378Lowest 462Highest

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

Median age 52.8±6.1Lowest 31% above WI 53.5±2.8Highest 33% 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 22%±4.5Highest WI: 21.4% 14.1%±5.1Lowest 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+ 26.2%±4.6Lowest WI: 18.5% 33.3%±5.2Highest 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+ 25.9%Lowest WI: 33.4% 26.6%Highest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±1.3Lowest WI: 5.8% 1.7%±1.5Highest 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 $63,125±$19kHighest 19% below WI $56,500±$10kLowest 27% 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 $235,300±$50kLowest 12% below WI $246,300±$32kHighest 8% 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 $2,958Highest 22% below WI $2,425Lowest 36% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7% 14.3%±84.1Highest 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 5.6%Lowest WI: 10.6% 10.4%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 17.2%±14.2Highest WI: 13.1% 10.5%±7.5Lowest 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%Lowest 0.7%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miLowest 21.8 miHighest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FreedomFew work in Willow

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 3%Lowest 57.3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miLowest 25.2 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.7 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

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

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.

Willow neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Willow’s Town Square.

Freedom neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freedom’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Willow and Freedom

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

Bordering Willow

Rockbridge760 people · $277K homes

Ithaca645 people · $229K homes

Westford641 people · $243K homes

Washington1,221 people · $295K homes

Towns like Willow

Grant394 people · $254K homes

Grant487 people · $233K homes

Fountain438 people · $288K homes

Vance Creek499 people · $232K 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.