What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Lempster	Effingham
People
Population	953Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	Lempster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kHighest 13% below NH	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH
	Lempster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH	$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,090±$121 27% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH	$5,163Highest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above NH	32 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lempster School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.