Compare towns
Stark vs Middlesex vs Stratford
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 oldest population (median age 58.8).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($161k 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 | Middlesex | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
1,943Highest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.8±16.8 28% above U.S. |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford and Middlesex 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% |
25.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest 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% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest 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. |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 41% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±53.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark and Stratford 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% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | Stratford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.