What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Newark has the most people working from home (13.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoddard	Newark
People
Population	1,072Highest	727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newark and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoddard and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S.
	Newark and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 27% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newark and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.