What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Walden
People
Population	419Lowest	1,037Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.	48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walden and Stark 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%	20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walden 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±$23kLowest 11% below U.S.	$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Walden 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.	$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S.
	Walden and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$900±$136 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.	$3,944Highest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±86.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Walden 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%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Walden 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	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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.