Compare towns
Stark vs Marshfield 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 homeowners (92.5%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% 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 | Marshfield | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
470Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
42.4±8.8Lowest 9% 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% |
19.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$84,375±$20kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Marshfield 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. |
$178,300±$31kLowest 46% below U.S. |
$288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$79 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,269Highest 5% above U.S. |
$2,922 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±62.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.