What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most kids (30.7% 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.

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

Measure	Lowell	Stark
People
Population	1,070Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.	$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Stark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.	$197,700±$34kHighest 41% below U.S.
	Stark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46 33% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Highest 10% below U.S.	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.