What stands out worked out from the figures below

Starks has the most expensive homes ($149k median).

Island Falls has the most people working from home (6.7%).

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	Starks	Island Falls
People
Population	556Lowest	768Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME	50.7±10.6Highest 13% above ME
	Island Falls and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Island Falls and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Highest ME: 36.2%	12.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Island Falls and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME	$56,328±$8kLowest 25% below ME
	Starks and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$148,500±$27kHighest 50% below ME	$108,300±$25kLowest 63% below ME
	Starks and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME	$636±$124Lowest 44% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,348Lowest 56% below ME	$1,720Highest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4%	17.9%±51.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Starks and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 33% above ME	21 minLowest 16% below ME
Work from home	3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Island Falls and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.