What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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	Rupert	Stark
People
Population	676Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Lowest 49% above U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
	Stark and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stark and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Rupert and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Stark School District
High school 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.