What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	419Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-8.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH	45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lancaster and Stark 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%	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Stark 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%	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Stark and Lancaster 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	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH
	Stark and Lancaster 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	$215,700±$24kHighest 46% below NH
	Lancaster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,019±$263 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH	$4,226Highest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 11 yrs older than NH	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above NH	23 minLowest 14% below NH
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Stark School District	White Mountains 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.