Compare towns
Wakefield vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Berlin | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
9,383Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
| Wakefield and Effingham 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% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Berlin and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Berlin 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 |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% 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 |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% 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 |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,090±$121 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 |
$3,437 48% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Berlin 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% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest 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 | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Berlin School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— |
| 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.