Compare towns
Benton vs Bath vs Stark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k median).
Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Benton | Bath | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
1,097Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | 0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.2% NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$71,750±$23kHighest 28% below NH |
| Stark and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH |
$234,400±$23k 42% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
| Benton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,438±$309 4% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 56% below NH |
$4,413Highest 34% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Bath School District | Stark School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.