What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Orford has the highest household income ($93k).

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	Marlborough	Orford
People
Population	2,207Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±9.2Lowest 6% above NH	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH
	Orford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,362Highest 5% below NH	$5,836Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Marlborough and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Marlborough and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Marlborough School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
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.