Compare towns
Stark vs Westfield 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).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Westfield | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419 |
536Highest |
386Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6 51% above U.S. |
44±19.9Lowest 13% 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% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benton and Westfield 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% |
27.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stark and Westfield 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. |
$72,500±$30kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$67,895±$4kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Westfield 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. |
$301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$288,300±$46k 13% below U.S. |
| Westfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$187 39% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,388Highest 41% above U.S. |
$2,922 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3Lowest 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westfield 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.