Compare towns
Decatur vs Seward vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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.
| Measure | Decatur | Seward | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 328Lowest |
2,055 |
2,149Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
43.2±6.9 9% above NY |
| Decatur and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.3%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3 NY: 7% |
6.5%±5.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Worcester and Seward 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 |
$69,886±$23k 19% below NY |
| Seward and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,500±$40k 59% below NY |
$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY |
$155,300±$43kLowest 63% 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±$109 53% below NY |
$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY |
$736±$327Lowest 55% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,404 48% below NY |
$3,855Highest 41% below NY |
$2,602Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±100 NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Worcester and Decatur 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% NY: 14% |
21.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 6% above NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
26 minLowest 19% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Seward and Worcester 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 | 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.