What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seward has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

Hamlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).

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	Seward	Hamlin
People
Population	2,055Lowest	8,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average	41.9±3.7Highest 5% above NY
	Hamlin and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	20.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hamlin and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Seward and Hamlin 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	$83,510±$9kLowest about the NY average
	Seward and Hamlin 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	$166,200±$9kLowest 61% below NY
	Seward and Hamlin 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	$1,062±$137Lowest 34% below NY
	Seward and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,855Lowest 41% below NY	$4,343Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	59.6%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Hamlin 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%	11.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 17 yrs newer than NY	1976 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	28 minLowest 15% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	12.2%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Hamlin 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.