What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most expensive homes ($481k 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.

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

Measure	Lee	Stark
People
Population	4,576Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Lee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Lee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,661Highest 45% above NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest about the NH average	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lee and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#3 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	10 photos →	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.