Compare towns
Effingham vs Windham 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
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Windham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Lowest |
19,188Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% 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%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Effingham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wakefield and Effingham 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 3% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Windham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Effingham 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 14 | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.