What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lorraine has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Steuben has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Lorraine	Steuben
People
Population	878Highest	828Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.7±10.7Lowest about the NY average	40.3±7.1Highest about the NY average
	Steuben and Lorraine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.1%±6.2Highest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lorraine and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Steuben and Lorraine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	21%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Lorraine and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,893±$19kLowest 23% below NY	$66,181±$15kHighest 23% below NY
	Steuben and Lorraine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,400±$27kHighest 64% below NY	$151,600±$22kLowest 64% below NY
	Lorraine and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,042±$269Highest 36% below NY	$850±$204Lowest 48% below NY
	Lorraine and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,680Highest 59% below NY	$2,641Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±54.9Highest NY: 52.1%	29.8%±59.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lorraine and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.1%Highest NY: 14%	11.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	85%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	28 minHighest 16% below NY
Work from home	2.3%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	20.1%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9%
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.