What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Stoddard
People
Population	1,295Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH	53±4Highest 22% above NH
	Stoddard and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stoddard and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Orford and Stoddard 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%	34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Orford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH	$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH
	Stoddard and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH	$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH
	Orford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 12% below NH	$4,316Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stoddard and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	34 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Orford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Stoddard School District
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.