Compare towns
Effingham vs Ossipee 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%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
4,521 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| 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%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee 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 |
$90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Ossipee 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 |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 18% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.