Compare towns
Stark vs Sheldon 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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 | Sheldon | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
2,267Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$288,300±$46kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Benton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,922 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stark School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.