Compare towns
Ossipee vs Benson 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
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Benson 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.
| Measure | Ossipee | Benson | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
784Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Benson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.