Compare towns
Effingham vs Gorham vs Ossipee
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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Gorham | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
2,682 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Gorham and Ossipee 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Ossipee 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% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Ossipee 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 23% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
| Ossipee 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±$30k 20% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121 27% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Gorham 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.