What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Webster	Stark
People
Population	2,227Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Webster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622 6% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 10% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 14% above NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Webster and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley 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.