Compare towns
Effingham vs Westminster vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Westminster | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912 |
497Lowest |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster 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 5% below U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Westminster 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. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield 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. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Effingham and Westminster 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% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Wakefield School District |
| High school 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.