What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).

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	Rome	Starks
People
Population	1,215Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME	46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±9.1Highest ME: 22.4%	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	21%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8%	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,639±$25kHighest 4% above ME	$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME	$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$56Highest about the ME average	$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,829Highest 40% below ME	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4%	45.5%±90.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rome and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	90%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 21% above ME	33 minHighest 33% above ME
Work from home	7.4%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Rome 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.