Compare towns
Stoddard vs Washington vs Marlow vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Stoddard | Washington | Marlow | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,072 |
1,208Highest |
855Lowest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4 22% above NH |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
50.8±7.2Lowest 17% above NH |
| Washington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Marlow and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Washington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
$1,154±$160Highest 23% below NH |
— |
| Marlow and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 25% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Washington and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Washington School District | Marlow School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.