What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seward has the most affordable homes ($199k median).

Barrington has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Seward	Barrington
People
Population	2,055Highest	1,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average	44.8±3.4Highest 13% above NY
	Barrington and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Barrington and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.1%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	29%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average	$90,938±$16kHighest 6% above NY
	Barrington and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,500±$25kLowest 53% below NY	$255,800±$32kHighest 40% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,180±$201Lowest 27% below NY	$1,574±$667Highest about the NY average
	Barrington and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,855Highest 41% below NY	$3,463Lowest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%	10.3%±84.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Seward and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Highest NY: 14%	5.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	11.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Barrington 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.