What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k median).

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stark	Surry
People
Population	419Lowest	1,836Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.	52.4±5.6Lowest 35% above U.S.
	Stark and Surry 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%	16.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Surry 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%	30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Surry 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%	38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,750±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.	$74,508±$12kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Surry 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.	$296,300±$36kHighest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$969±$129 31% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	65.8%±59.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stark and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stark School District	Surry Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.