Compare towns
Effingham vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Lancaster | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
3,216 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% 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%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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±$14k 23% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH |
| Wakefield 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lancaster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | 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 |
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.