What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has the most expensive homes ($192k median).

Ward has the most people working from home (4.3%).

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	Dresden	Ward
People
Population	551Highest	384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-17.6% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	59±2.8Highest 48% above NY	57.3±5.6Lowest 44% above NY
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.4%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	34.9%±11.4Highest NY: 17.9%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3Lowest NY: 7%	3.4%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY	$75,104±$15kHighest 13% below NY
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,500±$48kHighest 55% below NY	$133,800±$31kLowest 68% below NY
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,066±$109Lowest 34% below NY	$1,075±$207Highest 34% below NY
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,138Highest 52% below NY	$3,118Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.4%±48.2Highest NY: 52.1%	7.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% below NY	40 minHighest 24% above NY
Work from home	1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.3%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Ward and Dresden 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.