Compare towns
Stark vs Jefferson vs Benton
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).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
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 | Jefferson | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
1,013Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
58±3.5Lowest 34% above NH |
62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
| Benton 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% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stark and Jefferson 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% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Benton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stark and Jefferson 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 |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
| Stark and Benton 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 |
$296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
$288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
| Jefferson and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $867±$156 42% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$4,196Highest 37% below NH |
$2,922 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Benton 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% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
32 minLowest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.