What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caroga has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

Stratford has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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	Caroga	Stratford
People
Population	983Highest	769Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±5.3Highest 39% above NY	53.2±6.8Lowest 34% above NY
	Caroga and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.6%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.6%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Stratford and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.2%±6.8Highest NY: 17.9%	20.8%±7.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Caroga and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	16%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	0.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Caroga and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,395±$18kLowest 24% below NY	$66,518±$22kHighest 23% below NY
	Stratford and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$172,300±$25kHighest 59% below NY	$156,600±$45kLowest 63% below NY
	Caroga and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$813±$389 50% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,547Highest 61% below NY	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	27.5%±65.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Stratford and Caroga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%	27%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	85.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY	1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	39 minHighest 20% above NY
Work from home	3.6%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.1%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
School district	WHEELERVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.