What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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	Wilder	Starks
People
Population	3,087Highest	556Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S.
	Starks and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Starks and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S.	$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Wilder and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S.	$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,063±$301Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Wilder and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,505Highest 76% above U.S.	$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Starks and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
On TownTapestry
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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.