What stands out worked out from the figures below

Steuben has the most people working from home (20.1%).

Western has the most expensive homes ($238k median).

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	Western
People
Population	828Lowest	1,839Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.3±7.1Lowest about the NY average	48±6Highest 21% above NY
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	22%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Steuben and Western are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.5%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Lowest NY: 40.2%	32.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,181±$15kLowest 23% below NY	$88,964±$16kHighest 3% above NY
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$151,600±$22kLowest 64% below NY	$237,800±$69kHighest 44% below NY
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$204Lowest 48% below NY	$1,024±$178Highest 37% below NY
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,641Lowest 60% below NY	$4,930Highest 25% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.8%±59.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.4%±26.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Western and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.6%Highest NY: 14%	7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Highest NY: 54.3%	83%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 16% below NY	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	20.1%±6.8Highest NY: 14.9%	5.1%±2.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.