Compare towns

Benton vs Mapleton vs Stark

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

MeasureBentonMapletonStark
People
Population
386Lowest
1,884Highest
419
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.1±1.9Highest
60% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
58.8±3.6
51% above U.S.
Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
6.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
17.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,895±$4kLowest
16% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$71,750±$23k
11% below U.S.
Mapleton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$46kHighest
13% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$197,700±$34k
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277
57% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,922Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$2,636
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Benton and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
2.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stark and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Stark School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.