Compare towns
Wakefield vs Williston 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%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Effingham has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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 | Williston | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
10,144Highest |
1,912Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%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% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Williston and Wakefield 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Effingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Effingham 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.