What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dickinson has the most affordable homes ($147k median).

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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	Dickinson	Strafford
People
Population	5,001Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±3.3Lowest 10% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dickinson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,864±$14kLowest 4% below U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$147,400±$17kLowest 56% below U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$941±$68Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.
	Strafford and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,523Lowest 13% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.8%±13.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.