What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).

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	Stark	Belvidere
People
Population	419Lowest	422Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belvidere and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.	$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average
	Belvidere and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.	$239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,542±$1k 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Belvidere 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.