What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k median).

Stark has the highest household income ($72k).

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	Stow	Stark
People
Population	535Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-14% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57±10.5Lowest 47% above U.S.	58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S.
	Stark and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stow and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stow and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stark and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.	$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Stark and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average	$197,700±$34kLowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,304Highest 6% above U.S.	$2,636Lowest 15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stark and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	51 minHighest 95% above U.S.	34 minLowest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stow and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Stark School District
High school 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.