What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cato has the most expensive homes ($163k median).

West Union has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Cato	West Union
People
Population	515Lowest	520Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	40.2±7.4Highest about the NY average	37.2±9.8Lowest 7% below NY
	Cato and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	22.1%±11.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Cato and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±5.4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.2%±7.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Cato and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	14.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4.4Highest NY: 7%	1.2%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Cato and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,292±$19kHighest 4% below NY	$59,750±$15kLowest 31% below NY
	Cato and West Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,300±$19kHighest 61% below NY	$112,500±$12kLowest 73% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$695±$678Lowest 57% below NY	$763±$350Highest 53% below NY
	West Union and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,125Lowest 53% below NY	$3,259Highest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.2%±53Lowest NY: 52.1%	55.6%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	West Union and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest NY: 14%	18.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	29 minHighest 11% below NY
Work from home	6.8%±5.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.9%±6.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	West Union and Cato 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

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.