Compare towns

Dummer vs Effingham 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

Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Effingham has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).

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.

MeasureDummerEffinghamStark
People
Population
299Lowest
1,912Highest
419
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+15.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-14%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53.6±6.4
24% above NH
46.9±12.4Lowest
8% above NH
58.8±3.6Highest
36% above NH
Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±4.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±6.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Effingham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±2.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.2%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
20.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
17.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
NH: 6%
1.1%±0.8
NH: 6%
3.6%±4.7Highest
NH: 6%
Stark and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$21kHighest
8% below NH
$76,607±$14k
23% below NH
$71,750±$23kLowest
28% below NH
Dummer and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51k
40% below NH
$322,700±$30kHighest
20% below NH
$197,700±$34kLowest
51% below NH
Effingham and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,090±$121
27% below NH
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,898
57% below NH
$5,163Highest
23% below NH
$2,636Lowest
60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
13.6%±40.4
NH: 48.2%
66.7%±100Highest
NH: 48.2%
Stark and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
90.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
92.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
2 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below NH
32 min
18% above NH
34 minHighest
27% above NH
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.1%±4.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.9%±6.7
NH: 16.8%
Effingham and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Governor Wentworth Regional School District Stark School District
High school in town — None 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.