What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.3%).

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	Lunenburg
People
Population	419Lowest	1,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.	51.2±4.2Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9 U.S.: 22%	14.1%±3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S.	$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,700±$34kHighest 41% below U.S.	$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S.
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,025±$172 27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.	$2,702Highest 13% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	52.5%±57.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stark School District	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.