Compare towns
Effingham vs Ossipee vs Stark
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%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
4,521Highest |
419Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stark 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% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Ossipee 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 |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 23% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Stark 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 18% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Stark 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 | Stark 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.