Compare towns
Effingham vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Wakefield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Salisbury | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
1,609Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Salisbury 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Salisbury 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 |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Wakefield 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 |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Salisbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 23% below NH |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Effingham and Salisbury 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% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 18% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Merrimack Valley 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.