What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.1%).

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	Sharon	Seward
People
Population	1,656Lowest	2,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±4.1Highest about the NY average	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average
	Sharon and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,095±$11kLowest 21% below NY	$86,786±$20kHighest about the NY average
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,600±$25kLowest 59% below NY	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$161Lowest 30% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,255Lowest 51% below NY	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.3%±14.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.2%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 7% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	8.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Sharon 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.