Compare towns
Benton vs Ryegate 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).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.
| Measure | Benton | Ryegate | Stark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
1,059Highest |
419 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 60% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest 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% |
29.1%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% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4k 16% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Stark and Benton 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. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Benton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$236 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 6% below U.S. |
$3,472Highest 11% above U.S. |
$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest 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% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 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% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Stark School District |
| High school 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.