Compare towns
Stark vs Brookline 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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.
| Measure | Stark | Brookline | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
531 |
950Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% 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% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Stratford 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% |
41.1%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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Brookline 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. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% 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 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | Stratford School District |
| High school 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.