What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

Gilsum has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).

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	Stark	Gilsum
People
Population	419Lowest	716Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH	44.8±8.1Lowest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2%	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	18.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH	$80,417±$7kHighest 19% below NH
	Gilsum and Stark 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	$241,500±$32kHighest 40% below NH
	Gilsum and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,575±$894 6% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH	$5,579Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum 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%	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH	1972Highest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stark School District	Monadnock Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.