Compare towns
Effingham vs Bennington vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Bennington | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,588Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield 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 NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH |
| Wakefield 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 27% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Wakefield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 23% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Wakefield 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.