What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Effingham	Wolfeboro
People
Population	1,912Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
	Wolfeboro 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 NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Wolfeboro 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%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Wolfeboro and Effingham 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 23% below NH	$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH	$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH	$1,103±$76Highest 26% below NH
	Wolfeboro and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 23% below NH	$4,531Lowest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Effingham and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 3 yrs newer than NH	1982 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	24 minLowest 11% below NH
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro 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	—	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.