What stands out worked out from the figures below

Van Etten has the most people working from home (10.5%).

Erin has the most homeowners (91.7%).

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	Van Etten	Erin
People
Population	1,328Lowest	1,912Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.7±4.1Lowest 5% above NY	43.9±3.8Highest 10% above NY
	Erin and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	23%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.3 NY: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1 NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.4%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,620±$6kLowest 28% below NY	$66,583±$8kHighest 23% below NY
	Erin and Van Etten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,500±$18kHighest 65% below NY	$133,400±$27kLowest 69% below NY
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,071±$183Highest 34% below NY	$747±$305Lowest 54% below NY
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,010Lowest 54% below NY	$3,396Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±29.5Highest NY: 52.1%	25%±68.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 4% above NY	31 minLowest 6% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	4.1%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Van Etten and Erin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	SPENCER-VAN ETTEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.