What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monticello has the most people working from home (7.1%).

Starks has the highest household income ($64k).

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	Monticello	Starks
People
Population	674Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.7±6Highest 18% above ME	46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME
	Monticello and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.8%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Starks and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Monticello and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,875±$13kLowest 31% below ME	$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME
	Starks and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,800±$36kLowest 58% below ME	$148,500±$27kHighest 50% below ME
	Starks and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$833±$434Lowest 27% below ME	$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME
	Starks and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,200Lowest 60% below ME	$1,348Highest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±62.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Starks and Monticello are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	7.1%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Monticello 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.