What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).

New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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	Strafford	New Boston
People
Population	4,306Lowest	6,165Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH	38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Strafford and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	44.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6%
	Strafford and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH	$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH
	New Boston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH	$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH
	New Boston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH	$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Lowest 9% below NH	$8,181Highest 23% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	88%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	36 minLowest 33% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	New Boston and Strafford 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	#21 of 120 in NH
School district	Strafford School District	New Boston 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.