What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

Corning has the most affordable homes ($168k 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	Strafford	Corning
People
Population	1,372Lowest	5,829Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	41.6±3.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Corning and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.	$88,482±$10kLowest 10% above U.S.
	Strafford and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$167,600±$14kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,289±$219Highest 9% below U.S.
	Corning and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$3,895Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#393 of 484 in NY
School district	Strafford School District	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER
Students per teacherat that high school	—	4.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.