Compare towns
Starks vs Newfields vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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.
| Measure | Starks | Newfields | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
2,023Highest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Starks and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mercer and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$238,500±$32k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,422±$249 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Mercer 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,970 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.