What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union Vale has the youngest population (median age 40.7).

Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

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	Union Vale	Strafford
People
Population	4,567Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±4.4Lowest 5% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26%±7.2Highest U.S.: 22%	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Union Vale and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,888±$22kLowest 27% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$490,900±$45kHighest 48% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Union Vale and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,167±$2kHighest 53% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Union Vale and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,469Highest 204% above U.S.	$7,149Lowest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.1%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union Vale and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Union Vale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 484 in NY	—
School district	ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.