What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Stark
People
Population	4,657Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jay and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stark and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 13% below U.S.	$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Stark and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S.	$197,700±$34kHighest 41% below U.S.
	Stark and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141 46% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 28% below U.S.	$2,636Highest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#86 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 73	Stark School District
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.