Compare towns
Effingham vs Parsonsfield vs Webster
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%).
Parsonsfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Parsonsfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,715Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Parsonsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Effingham 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% |
21.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Effingham 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 5% below U.S. |
$72,045±$18kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$272,100±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster 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 23% below U.S. |
$1,185±$312 16% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Parsonsfield 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. |
$2,350Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.2%±35Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Parsonsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 83% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.