Compare towns
Wakefield vs Madison 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 most homeowners (96.8%).
Madison 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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Madison | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,680 |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Madison and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Madison 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 |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Madison 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 |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Madison and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Madison and Wakefield 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 |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$5,163Highest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Madison 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.