Compare towns

German vs Smithville 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 people working from home (6.4%).
Smithville has the most expensive homes ($173k median).
Ward has the most homeowners (90.6%).

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.

MeasureGermanSmithvilleWard
People
Population
274Lowest
1,525Highest
384
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.6%
NY: +4.2%
—
Median age
53.8±5.8
35% above NY
43.1±3.2Lowest
8% above NY
57.3±5.6Highest
44% above NY
Ward and German are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±6.4Lowest
NY: 20.5%
16.6%±3.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
16.4%±5.7
NY: 20.5%
Smithville and Ward 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%
16.1%±3.7Lowest
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%
NY: 40.2%
19.4%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
25.3%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.6
NY: 7%
5.8%±5.8Highest
NY: 7%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
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±$7k
18% below NY
$75,104±$15kHighest
13% below NY
Ward and Smithville 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
$133,800±$31k
68% below NY
Smithville and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$817±$260Lowest
50% below NY
$889±$186
45% below NY
$1,075±$207Highest
34% below NY
Ward and Smithville 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
$3,118
53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±100
NY: 52.1%
54.9%±31.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
7.1%±100Lowest
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%
NY: 14%
4.2%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
NY: 54.3%
81.7%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
90.6%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
13 yrs newer than NY
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
1979Highest
20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
43 minHighest
31% above NY
29 minLowest
10% below NY
40 min
24% above NY
Work from home
6.4%±4.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
4.4%±2.6
NY: 14.9%
4.3%±4.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
German and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.