Effingham

Carroll CountyLakes RegionPopulation: 1,691

Overview

Effingham is a rural town in Carroll County near the Maine border and the Ossipee Lake region. The town's forested hills and farmland give it a quiet, agricultural character.

Effingham's proximity to Ossipee Lake and the broader Lakes Region provides recreational access without lakefront costs, while the town's rural roads connect scattered residential neighborhoods. Most shopping trips require driving to Ossipee or Wakefield.

Housing in Effingham remains affordable, drawing families and retirees who want rural, Lakes Region-adjacent living at a lower cost.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Rural character
  • Affordable
  • Near lakes
  • Quiet

Cons

  • Limited services
  • No downtown
  • Remote location

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Effingham.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$15.38
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$14.56
Equalization ratio: 95%
Municipal
$5.45
Local School
$8.30
State Education
$0.97
County
$0.66

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$15.38$14.56$5.45$8.30$0.97$0.66

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$3,845$320
$350,000$5,383$449
$500,000$7,690$641
$750,000$11,535$961
$1,000,000$15,380$1,282

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $15.38 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
78.2°F
Winter Avg High
33.6°F
Annual Snowfall
62.3 in
Annual Rainfall
48.8 in
Sunny Days/Year
263
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
111 mi
~155 min drive
Manchester
77 mi
~121 min drive
Portsmouth
57 mi
~92 min drive
Concord
64 mi
~105 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
43/100
Trail Miles
21.5
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:9 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$83,021
Per Capita Income
$35,322
Median Family Income
$93,750

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$245,500
Median Rent
$888/mo
Homeownership Rate
86.89%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
3.6%
In Labor Force
973

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.17%
Total with Degree
128

👥Demographics

Median Age
39.3 years
Avg Household Size
3.23 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Effingham with Other Towns

See how Effingham stacks up against other NH communities.