Compare towns
Effingham vs Dorset vs Wakefield
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%).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Dorset | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
2,092 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Wakefield 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dorset 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 5% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Wakefield 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. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Effingham 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.