Compare towns
Stark vs Sharon 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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Sharon | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
1,577Highest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratford and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Stratford 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. |
$84,375±$17kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Sharon 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. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$264Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636 15% below U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | Sharon School District | 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.