Compare towns
Ossipee vs Strafford 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 most renters (18% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Strafford | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
4,306 |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 9% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Strafford 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 19% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Strafford 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 Our Story | 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.