What stands out worked out from the figures below

Howard has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).

West Sparta has the most people working from home (7.8%).

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	Howard	West Sparta
People
Population	1,254Highest	1,093Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.1±3.1Highest 23% above NY	48.6±11.6Lowest 22% above NY
	Howard and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5%	17.1%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Howard and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.6%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%	23.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Howard and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	18%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.8%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	West Sparta and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,906±$5kHighest 14% below NY	$72,917±$14kLowest 15% below NY
	Howard and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$128,100±$25kHighest 70% below NY	$99,400±$20kLowest 77% below NY
	Howard and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$242Lowest 52% below NY	$907±$258Highest 44% below NY
	West Sparta and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,605Lowest 60% below NY	$2,826Highest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.9%±64.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	50%±69.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	West Sparta and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest NY: 14%	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 31% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	5.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	West Sparta and Howard 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.