Compare towns
Effingham vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
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 | Exeter | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
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%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Exeter 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 20% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Exeter and Wakefield 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Effingham 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.