What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	419Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Stark 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%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stark and Middlesex 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%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex 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±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,333±$359 6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex 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	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.