Compare towns
Hancock vs Webster vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Hancock | Webster | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Lowest |
2,227Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| Hancock and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 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+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Webster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Webster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
$5,163Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
31 minLowest 14% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.