Compare towns
Dummer vs Stark vs Columbia vs Benton
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 highest household income ($91k).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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.
| Measure | Dummer | Stark | Columbia | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
419 |
683Highest |
386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-12.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
51.8±10.1Lowest 20% above NH |
62.1±1.9Highest 43% 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 | 19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
29.9%±8.3 NH: 20.1% |
37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% NH: 40.6% |
17.5% NH: 40.6% |
14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
18.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Columbia and Stark 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 |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH |
$67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
| Dummer and Stark 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 |
$197,700±$34k 51% below NH |
$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH |
$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH |
| Benton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $792±$333 47% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,898 57% below NH |
$2,636 60% below NH |
$2,009Lowest 70% below NH |
$2,922Highest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
9.1%±95.8 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest 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 | 9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Columbia 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 | 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.