What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Washington	Effingham
People
Population	1,208Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH
	Washington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Effingham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH
	Washington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH
	Washington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$160Highest 26% below NH	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH
	Washington and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH	$5,163Highest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	13.6%±40.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Effingham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 33% above NH	32 minLowest 18% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Effingham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.