What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stark has the most affordable homes ($157k median).

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Springfield
People
Population	685Lowest	952Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±15.8Highest 16% above NY	39.6±9.9Lowest about the NY average
	Stark and Springfield 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%	19.1%±4.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Springfield and Stark 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%	25.9%±8.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Springfield 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	30.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Springfield 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	$62,965±$9kHighest 27% below NY
	Springfield 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±$33kLowest 63% below NY	$239,100±$107kHighest 44% below NY
	Springfield and Stark 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	$773±$129Lowest 52% below NY
	Stark and Springfield 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	$3,000Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±42.5Highest NY: 52.1%	21.6%±56.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Stark and Springfield 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%	20.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959 same as NY	1959 same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	13.3%±4.8 NY: 14.9%	13.3%±6.2 NY: 14.9%
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.