What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

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

Measure	Strafford	Stark
People
Population	4,306Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest 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	$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246 10% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Highest 9% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±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%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	34 minLowest 27% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest 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	Strafford School District	Stark 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.