Compare towns
Wakefield vs West Windsor 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
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Effingham has the most renters (9.8% rent).
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 | West Windsor | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,171Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor 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% |
25.5%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Windsor 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% |
59.7%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% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor 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. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| West Windsor 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 |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| West Windsor and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Effingham and Wakefield 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #118 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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 |
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.