Compare towns
Stark vs Lyndeborough 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).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Lyndeborough | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
1,616Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 36% above NH |
50±3.2Lowest 15% 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%±6.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Benton 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% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyndeborough and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$390,900±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,482±$457 about the NH average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$2,922 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
32 minLowest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 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.