Compare towns
Effingham vs Wayne vs Middleton
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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Wayne | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.5±5.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Middleton 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 5% below U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$101,696±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Wayne 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. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$312,300±$27kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Effingham 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. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,500±$293Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Effingham 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,504Highest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middleton and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.