What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tamworth 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tamworth	Effingham
People
Population	2,884Highest	1,912Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.6±10.9Lowest 5% above NH	46.9±12.4Highest 8% above NH
	Effingham and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Tamworth and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Tamworth and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Highest NH: 6%
	Effingham and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,036±$20kLowest 31% below NH	$76,607±$14kHighest 23% below NH
	Effingham and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,800±$29kHighest 9% below NH	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH
	Tamworth and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,110±$184Highest 26% below NH	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH
	Tamworth and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,474Lowest 33% below NH	$5,163Highest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.6%±31.1Highest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Tamworth and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Tamworth 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	#101 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Tamworth School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.