What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most kids (18.4% under 18).

Milford has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Milford
People
Population	685Highest	475Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.7% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	46.3±15.8Lowest 16% above NY	47.3±6.7Highest 19% above NY
	Milford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	9.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Stark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.7%±5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Milford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	10.7%±9.8Highest NY: 7%
	Milford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,875±$14kLowest 29% below NY	$64,167±$14kHighest 25% below NY
	Milford and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,800±$33kHighest 63% below NY	$152,500±$24kLowest 64% below NY
	Stark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$929±$257Highest 43% below NY	$850±$92Lowest 48% below NY
	Stark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,492Highest 47% below NY	$2,813Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±42.5Highest NY: 52.1%	25.4%±25.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Stark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NY: 14%	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	11.3%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Stark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#470 of 484 in NY
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.