Compare towns
Marlow vs Stoddard 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 the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.
| Measure | Marlow | Stoddard | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
1,072Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% above NH |
| Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Stoddard and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
— |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above NH |
34 minLowest 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Stoddard 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 | Stoddard 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.