What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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	Smithville	Stratton
People
Population	1,525Highest	532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S.	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S.	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.
	Stratton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,254Lowest 36% above U.S.	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	4.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithville and Stratton 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

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.