What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).

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	Decatur
People
Population	2,055Highest	328Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2% NY: +4.2%	—
Median age	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average	55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY
Kids under 18	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7%
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,786±$20kHighest about the NY average	$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY	$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY
	Seward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY	$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,855Highest 41% below NY	$3,404Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	50%±100Highest NY: 52.1%
	Decatur and Seward 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%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	93%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	35 minLowest 6% above NY
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Decatur 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.