Compare towns
Effingham vs Gilsum 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%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Gilsum | Parsonsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
716Lowest |
1,715 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.8±8.1 15% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Gilsum 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% |
12%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gilsum 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gilsum and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$80,417±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Gilsum and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$241,500±$32kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$272,100±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Parsonsfield 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. |
$1,575±$894Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,185±$312 16% below U.S. |
| Gilsum 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. |
$5,579Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.5%±55.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Gilsum 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 | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.