What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Gilsum	Stark
People
Population	716Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Gilsum and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kHighest 40% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
	Gilsum and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894 6% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 16% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Monadnock 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

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.