What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k 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	Columbia	Effingham
People
Population	683Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	Columbia and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH	$76,607±$14kHighest 23% below NH
	Effingham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH	$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH	$1,090±$121Highest 27% below NH
	Effingham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH	$5,163Highest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Effingham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Effingham and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH 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.