What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Marlow	Stark
People
Population	855Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	52.8±11.7Lowest 22% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
	Stark and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Marlow and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Marlow and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,154±$160 23% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,826Highest 13% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	34 minLowest 27% above NH
Work from home	0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Marlow 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.