Compare towns
Ossipee vs Gray 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 oldest population (median age 50).
Gray has the most expensive homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
8,429Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Gray 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% |
44.8%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% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Gray and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Gray and Ossipee 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. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.