Compare towns
Stark vs Mapleton vs Benton
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 most people working from home (13.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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.
| Measure | Stark | Mapleton | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
1,884Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.1±1.9Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Benton and Stark 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Stark 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Stark 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,922Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benton and Stark 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.