What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Washington	Stark
People
Population	1,208Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55±4.7Lowest 27% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
	Stark and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Stark and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Washington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Washington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Washington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,106±$160 26% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,321Highest 35% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 33% above NH	34 minLowest 27% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Washington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington 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.