What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Rumney	Strafford
People
Population	1,458Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rumney and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney 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.