Compare towns
German vs Decatur vs Ward
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Ward has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | German | Decatur | Ward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 274Lowest |
328 |
384Highest |
| Median age | 53.8±5.8Lowest 35% above NY |
55.3±7.6 39% above NY |
57.3±5.6Highest 44% above NY |
| Ward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±6.4 NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.4%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±7.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
34.9%±11.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.7% NY: 40.2% |
25.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.6 NY: 7% |
4.3%±5Highest NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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±$19k 19% below NY |
$75,104±$15kHighest 13% below NY |
| Ward and Decatur 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 |
$133,800±$31k 68% below NY |
| Decatur and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $817±$260 50% below NY |
$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY |
$1,075±$207Highest 34% below NY |
| Ward and German 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 |
$3,118 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100 NY: 52.1% |
50%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
4.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 31% above NY |
35 minLowest 6% above NY |
40 min 24% above NY |
| Work from home | 6.4%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±4.1Lowest 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 | 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.