Compare towns
Effingham vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Madison | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
2,680 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Madison and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Madison 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Madison 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 |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Madison 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 |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Madison and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Madison and Wakefield 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 |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | Madison 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.