What stands out worked out from the figures below

Van Etten has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).

Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Manchester
People
Population	1,328Lowest	1,631Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.7±4.1Lowest 5% above NY	43.1±4.5Highest 8% above NY
	Manchester 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%	19.9%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Van Etten and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	25.3%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.5Lowest NY: 7%
	Van Etten and Manchester 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	$65,750±$14kHighest 24% below NY
	Manchester 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	$110,000±$7kLowest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,071±$183Lowest 34% below NY	$1,310±$51Highest 19% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,010Lowest 54% below NY	$3,708Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±29.5Highest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±17.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Van Etten and Manchester 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%	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2% NY: 54.3%	79.2% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 4% above NY	20 minLowest 40% below NY
Work from home	10.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9%	6.5%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Van Etten and Manchester 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	—	#198 of 484 in NY
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.