What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Castle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.3%).

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).

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	New Castle	Strafford
People
Population	827Lowest	1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$3,501Highest 148% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,509Highest 173% above U.S.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	New Castle School District	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.