Compare towns
Stark vs Middlesex 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 affordable homes ($198k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
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 | Middlesex | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
1,943Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest 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±$23k 11% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$288,300±$46k 13% below 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. |
$2,922 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest 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 | 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.