Compare towns
Wakefield vs Mapleton vs Alton vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alton has the most expensive homes ($430k 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 | Mapleton | Alton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,884Lowest |
5,994Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| Alton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 25% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Alton 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 about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.