Compare towns
Effingham vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Hancock | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,791Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Hancock and Wakefield 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Hancock 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 |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Wakefield and Hancock 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 |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 18% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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.