Compare towns
Effingham vs Barnstead vs Parsonsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Parsonsfield has the most kids (25% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Effingham | Barnstead | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
4,994Highest |
1,715Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$272,100±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,185±$312 16% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Parsonsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Barnstead School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.