1. Start with your actual unanswered calls—not population
The Census records Freeport as a municipality in Stephenson County and estimates 23,505 residents for 2020–2024. That is useful geographic context, but it cannot tell you how many people call your firm, when they call or whether a caller is a potential new client, a current client or another contact. For an AI Answering decision, the more relevant evidence is your phone history: unanswered calls, voicemail messages, overflow periods and callbacks that lacked enough information for a useful first conversation.
Recommended approach
Review a representative period of your own call records before deciding what the system should handle. Separate calls by time, practice area and caller type where your records allow. Use the consultation to determine whether the proposed response path addresses a real intake gap rather than treating Freeport’s population as a demand forecast.
