What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshall has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Marshall	Seward
People
Population	2,163Highest	2,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	37.5±2.8Lowest 6% below NY	39.5±8Highest about the NY average
	Seward and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.6%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Marshall and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.1%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,250±$32kHighest 18% above NY	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average
	Marshall and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$212,400±$18kHighest 50% below NY	$198,500±$25kLowest 53% below NY
	Marshall and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,039±$151Lowest 36% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
	Seward and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,595Lowest 45% below NY	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.5%±28.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Seward and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	10.1%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Marshall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.