What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).

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	Stratton	Smithville
People
Population	532Lowest	1,525Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.6% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S.	43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S.
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S.	$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S.	$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S.	$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Stratton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 52% above U.S.	$4,254Lowest 36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithville and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	4.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithville and Stratton 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

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.