What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.7).

Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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	Athens	Steuben
People
Population	791Lowest	1,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1%	20.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%	15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	18.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME	$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME	$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME	$678±$319Highest 40% below ME
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,355Lowest 55% below ME	$2,029Highest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4%	26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Public Schools	RSU 24
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.