What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).

Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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	Chapman	Starks
People
Population	388Lowest	556Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-7.3% ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average	46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME
	Starks and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	21%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Chapman and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME	$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME	$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME
	Chapman and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,063±$301 7% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,850Highest 39% below ME	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Starks and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	90%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 6% below ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	4.8%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Chapman and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.