Compare towns
Ossipee vs Stark vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Stark | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
419Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stark 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stark 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 9% below NH |
$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| 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 7% above NH |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 34% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Stark 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 | Stark School District | 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 |
NH 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.