What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Orford	Stark
People
Population	1,295Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stark and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Orford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Orford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686 15% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 12% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Stark School District
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
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.