Compare towns
Ossipee vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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 | Salem | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
44,795Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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% |
47.8%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% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Salem 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Salem and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 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% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.