What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clifton has the most people working from home (9.1%).

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	Clifton	Starks
People
Population	1,111Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME	46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±7.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Starks and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	21%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,313±$16kHighest 6% below ME	$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,500±$67kHighest 32% below ME	$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME	$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,838Highest 39% below ME	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90%Highest 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	29 minLowest 19% above ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	9.1%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Clifton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.