What stands out worked out from the figures below

Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.7).

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	Steuben	Athens
People
Population	1,388Highest	791Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME	47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average	$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME	$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$678±$319Highest 40% below ME	$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,029Highest 33% below ME	$1,355Lowest 55% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Athens and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Steuben and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	Athens Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.