Compare towns
Stark vs Strafford vs Dummer
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Strafford | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
4,306Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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±$23kLowest 28% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$91,250±$21k 8% below NH |
| Strafford and Dummer 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$242,200±$51k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$2,898 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Stark 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stark School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.