What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	556Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.7±9.4Lowest 20% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Starks and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson 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±$8kLowest 21% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Starks and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Starks and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1988 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 23% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.