Compare towns
Effingham vs Ossipee vs Sutton vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Ossipee | Sutton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
4,521 |
9,452Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% 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% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Ossipee and Wakefield 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. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sutton | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.