What stands out worked out from the figures below

German has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

Decatur has the most expensive homes ($174k 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	German	Decatur
People
Population	274Lowest	328Highest
Median age	53.8±5.8Lowest 35% above NY	55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY
	Decatur and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	German and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±7.5 NY: 17.9%	27.7%±6.1 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 7%	4.3%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Decatur and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,813±$11kLowest 21% below NY	$69,375±$19kHighest 19% below NY
	Decatur and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$112,500±$15kLowest 73% below NY	$173,500±$40kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$817±$260Highest 50% below NY	$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY
	German and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,844Lowest 72% below NY	$3,404Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	50%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Decatur and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.2%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 13 yrs newer than NY	1972 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 31% above NY	35 minLowest 6% above NY
Work from home	6.4%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	German and Decatur 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.