Compare towns
Effingham vs Ossipee vs Ripton vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Ossipee | Ripton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912 |
4,521Highest |
508Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8k 26% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
— | $1,500±$293 6% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 66% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,504Highest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.