Compare towns
Stark vs Alstead vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Alstead has the most renters (24% rent).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Stark | Alstead | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
1,551Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
56±3.3Lowest 29% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stark and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23kHighest 28% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Stark and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$5,322Highest 20% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.