Compare towns
Effingham vs Wakefield vs Webster
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%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
5,405Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster 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% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster 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% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Webster 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 |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
| Webster 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 |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
| Webster 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 |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
| Webster 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster 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 | Wakefield School District | Merrimack Valley 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.