Compare towns
Erwin vs Strafford vs Ballston Spa
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ballston Spa has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Erwin | Strafford | Ballston Spa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,965Highest |
1,372Lowest |
5,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.7±3.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,333±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$101,667±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ballston Spa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,700±$26kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$308,200±$29k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,122±$238Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Erwin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,829 87% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,335Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Erwin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ballston Spa and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #431 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CORNING CITY 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 | 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.