Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dunbarton 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 oldest population (median age 49.4).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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 | Dunbarton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
3,097 |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Wakefield and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Effingham 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton 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±$11k about the NH average |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Wakefield and Dunbarton 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Dunbarton 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.