Compare towns
Benton vs Unity 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 oldest population (median age 62.1).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Unity | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
1,375Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
58±4.5Lowest 34% 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% |
12%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stark and Unity 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% |
34.9%±7 NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Benton and Unity 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% |
21.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
| Unity and Stark 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 |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
| Benton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804 9% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 56% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Unity 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.