What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Stoddard
People
Population	4,306Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH	53±4Highest 22% above NH
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%	17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Strafford and Stoddard 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%	24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stoddard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Strafford and Stoddard 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	$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH
	Strafford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH	$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH
	Strafford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,086Highest 9% below NH	$4,316Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2%	52.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Strafford and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	34 minLowest 25% above NH
Work from home	15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Strafford and Stoddard 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	Stoddard 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.