Compare towns
Marlow vs Stark vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Marlow | Stark | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855 |
419Lowest |
953Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% 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%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Stark 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 |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$241,900±$29k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Stark 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 minLowest 27% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlow School District | Stark School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.