What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).

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.

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

Measure	Kingston	Effingham
People
Population	6,275Highest	1,912Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	Kingston and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Kingston and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Kingston and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$105,330±$12kHighest 6% above NH	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,393±$156Highest 7% below NH	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,906Highest 19% above NH	$5,163Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Kingston and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest 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	34 minHighest 27% above NH	32 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Effingham and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Sanborn Regional School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Sanborn Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9	—
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.