What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most people working from home (13.3%).

Minden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-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	Minden
People
Population	685Lowest	4,181Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±15.8Highest 16% above NY	38.4±8.1Lowest 4% below NY
	Stark and Minden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.6%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Minden and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	17.7%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Stark and Minden 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%	19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	5.4%±2.6Highest NY: 7%
	Minden 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±$14kHighest 29% below NY	$44,195±$10kLowest 49% below NY
	Stark and Minden 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	$90,500±$9kLowest 79% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$929±$257Highest 43% below NY	$718±$99Lowest 56% below NY
	Stark and Minden 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	$3,180Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±42.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	49.2%±8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Minden and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%	18%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Highest 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	28 minLowest 14% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9%	5.5%±4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Stark and Minden 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	—	#320 of 484 in NY
School district	—	FORT PLAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	FORT PLAIN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.1
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.