Compare towns
Effingham vs Ware vs Ossipee vs Andover
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%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
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 | Ware | Ossipee | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,521 |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
46±11.6 18% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Ossipee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware 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±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$88,514±$27k 10% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$366,500±$44kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,211±$190 14% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Andover 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$5,962Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.