What stands out worked out from the figures below

Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).

Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Decatur	Seward
People
Population	328Lowest	2,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.2% NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY	$86,786±$20kHighest about the NY average
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,404Lowest 48% below NY	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Decatur and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 6% above NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Decatur 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.