Compare towns

Stark vs Brookfield vs Stratford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Stratford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureStarkBrookfieldStratford
People
Population
419Lowest
1,486Highest
950
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.8±3.6Highest
51% above U.S.
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
49.8±16.8
28% above U.S.
Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stratford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stark and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,750±$23k
11% below U.S.
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$49,583±$14kLowest
39% below U.S.
Brookfield 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±$34k
41% below U.S.
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$161,100±$48kLowest
52% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$975±$306Highest
31% below U.S.
$775±$264Lowest
45% below U.S.
Brookfield and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,636
15% below U.S.
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,512Lowest
19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±53.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
23.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield 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 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Stratford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.