Compare towns
Ossipee vs Dalton 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).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dalton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
6,256Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ossipee and Dalton 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. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dalton 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% 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. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Dalton 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Central Berkshire | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.