Compare towns
Benton vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Berlin | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
9,383Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
44.6±2.8Lowest 3% 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% |
17.2%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Berlin 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% |
20.1%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
17.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Berlin 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 |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% 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 |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$197,700±$34k 51% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $815±$141 45% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 56% below NH |
$3,437Highest 48% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12Lowest 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% |
15.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Berlin School District | Stark School District |
| High school in town | — | Berlin Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.2 |
— |
| 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.