What stands out worked out from the figures below

German has the most people working from home (6.4%).

Smithville has the most expensive homes ($173k 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	Smithville
People
Population	274Lowest	1,525Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.6% NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.8±5.8Highest 35% above NY	43.1±3.2Lowest 8% above NY
Kids under 18	15.3%±6.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	16.6%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Smithville and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.7%±7.5Highest NY: 17.9%	16.1%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	19.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.6Lowest NY: 7%	5.8%±5.8Highest NY: 7%
	Smithville 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	$70,433±$7kHighest 18% below NY
	Smithville 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	$173,200±$42kHighest 59% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$817±$260Lowest 50% below NY	$889±$186Highest 45% below NY
	Smithville 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	$4,254Highest 35% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.9%±31.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Smithville 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%	11.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	43 minHighest 31% above NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	6.4%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	4.4%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	German and Smithville 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.