What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradley has the most affordable homes ($202k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bradley	Effingham
People
Population	1,645Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±9.7Lowest 10% above U.S.	46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S.
	Effingham and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bradley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bradley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bradley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,667±$28kHighest 5% below U.S.	$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S.
	Bradley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,800±$37kLowest 39% below U.S.	$322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$325Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S.
	Effingham and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,946Lowest 38% below U.S.	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bradley and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	32 minHighest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Effingham and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 34	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.