What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the highest household income ($72k).

Northumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stark	Northumberland
People
Population	419Lowest	1,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH	45.7±6.2Lowest 6% above NH
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Northumberland and Stark 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%	24.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Stark and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%	2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Stark and Northumberland 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	$40,268±$7kLowest 59% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,700±$34kHighest 51% below NH	$120,100±$15kLowest 70% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,018±$96 32% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH	$2,794Highest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.7%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Northumberland 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%	23.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 11 yrs older than NH	1960Lowest 19 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above NH	18 minLowest 33% below NH
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stark School District	Northumberland School District
High school in town	None in town	Groveton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.6
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.