Compare towns
Effingham vs Webster vs Milan 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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Milan has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Webster | Milan | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,912 |
2,227 |
1,334Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
50.3±2.8Highest 16% above NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Milan 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% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 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% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Milan and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.7%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Milan and Webster 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 23% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$70,300±$8kLowest 29% below NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| 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±$30k 20% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$259,400±$30kLowest 36% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% 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±$121 27% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$878±$160Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% 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 |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$3,674 45% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
17%±43.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Milan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
87.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
30 minLowest 11% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Milan School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.