Compare towns
Effingham vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Lee | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
4,576 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% 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 | $5,163 23% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 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.