Compare towns
Stark vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
699Highest |
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. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benton and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Reading 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. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Reading 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±$34kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$288,300±$46k 13% below U.S. |
| Reading and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$2,922 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.