What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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	Stafford	Seward
People
Population	2,251Highest	2,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±2.2Highest 5% above NY	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average
	Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±4.8 NY: 20.5%	27.2%±3 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.9%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,554±$16kHighest about the NY average	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average
	Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$182,500±$17kLowest 57% below NY	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY
	Seward and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$848±$230Lowest 48% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
	Seward and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,649Highest 29% below NY	$3,855Lowest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±30.3Highest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Stafford and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	9.8%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Stafford 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.