What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most people working from home (14.8%).

Wolcott has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

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	Sterling	Wolcott
People
Population	3,192Lowest	3,971Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	51.6±3.5Highest 30% above NY	42.1±5.1Lowest 6% above NY
Kids under 18	14.3%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.9%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	27.4%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	20.3%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	14.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±3Highest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,750±$9kHighest 31% below NY	$54,569±$10kLowest 37% below NY
	Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,200±$41kHighest 67% below NY	$87,500±$16kLowest 79% below NY
	Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$681±$411Highest 58% below NY	$667±$106Lowest 59% below NY
	Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,568Highest 61% below NY	$2,486Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.3%±20.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.7%±13.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wolcott and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Lowest NY: 14%	20.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY	1955Highest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 18% below NY	31 minHighest 4% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±7Highest NY: 14.9%	3.2%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#367 of 484 in NY
School district	—	NORTH ROSE-WOLCOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RED CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	RED CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.6
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.