Compare towns

Erin vs Worcester vs Van Etten

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erin has the most affordable homes ($133k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Van Etten has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

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.

MeasureErinWorcesterVan Etten
People
Population
1,912
2,149Highest
1,328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.9%
NY: +4.2%
-1.2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
43.9±3.8Highest
10% above NY
43.2±6.9
9% above NY
41.7±4.1Lowest
5% above NY
Erin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5
NY: 20.5%
20.3%±3.3Lowest
NY: 20.5%
24.3%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±2.1Highest
NY: 17.9%
17.4%±2.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
18.7%±3.3Highest
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
26.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
23.5%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
6.5%±5.5Highest
NY: 7%
2.6%±1.6
NY: 7%
Worcester and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,583±$8k
23% below NY
$69,886±$23kHighest
19% below NY
$61,620±$6kLowest
28% below NY
Worcester and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$133,400±$27kLowest
69% below NY
$155,300±$43kHighest
63% below NY
$146,500±$18k
65% below NY
Worcester and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$747±$305
54% below NY
$736±$327Lowest
55% below NY
$1,071±$183Highest
34% below NY
Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,396Highest
48% below NY
$2,602Lowest
60% below NY
$3,010
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±68.1Lowest
NY: 52.1%
91.8%±41.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
47.4%±29.5
NY: 52.1%
Worcester and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Lowest
NY: 14%
21.7%Highest
NY: 14%
12.5%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
90.7%
NY: 54.3%
79.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
6% below NY
26 minLowest
19% below NY
34 minHighest
4% above NY
Work from home
4.1%±2.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±4.6
NY: 14.9%
10.5%±4.5Highest
NY: 14.9%
Van Etten and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — SPENCER-VAN ETTEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — None in town
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.