Compare towns

Middleton vs Baldwin vs Effingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the highest household income ($102k).
Baldwin has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

MeasureMiddletonBaldwinEffingham
People
Population
1,595
1,170Lowest
1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.5±5.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
50.6±4.6Highest
30% above U.S.
46.9±12.4
21% above U.S.
Baldwin and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
12.1%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Baldwin and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$8kHighest
26% above U.S.
$68,045±$8kLowest
16% below U.S.
$76,607±$14k
5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,300±$27k
6% below U.S.
$263,200±$38kLowest
21% below U.S.
$322,700±$30kHighest
3% below U.S.
Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$293Highest
6% above U.S.
—
$1,090±$121Lowest
23% below U.S.
Middleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,504Highest
76% above U.S.
$2,540Lowest
19% below U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±42.9
U.S.: 51.1%
13.6%±40.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middleton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
39 minHighest
47% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
32 minLowest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
14.1%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Middleton School District — Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.