Compare towns
Benton vs Stark vs Lyman
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 oldest population (median age 62.1).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Stark | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
419 |
464Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
58.8±3.6Lowest 36% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
| Benton and Lyman 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% |
14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stark and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Benton 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% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
$71,750±$23kHighest 28% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Stark and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 56% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$3,981Highest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Stark School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.