Compare towns
Wakefield vs Alstead 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
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wakefield | Alstead | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,551Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Alstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
— | $1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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.