What stands out worked out from the figures below

Niles has the most affordable homes ($197k median).

Spafford has the most people working from home (18.5%).

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	Niles	Spafford
People
Population	1,147Lowest	1,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.9±9.1Lowest 18% above NY	50.9±2.4Highest 28% above NY
	Spafford and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Spafford and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Spafford and Niles are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,588±$20kLowest 6% below NY	$111,138±$4kHighest 29% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,100±$38kLowest 53% below NY	$323,500±$38kHighest 24% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,125±$763 31% above NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,650Lowest 45% below NY	$4,806Highest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±100Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Niles and Spafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Highest NY: 14%	5.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	96%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 21% below NY	32 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	4.8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.5%±4.5Highest 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.