What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ward has the most people working from home (4.3%).

Dresden has the most expensive homes ($192k 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	Ward	Dresden
People
Population	384Lowest	551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-17.6% NY: +4.2%
Median age	57.3±5.6Lowest 44% above NY	59±2.8Highest 48% above NY
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±11.4Highest NY: 17.9%	27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	1.8%±3Lowest NY: 7%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,104±$15kHighest 13% below NY	$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$133,800±$31kLowest 68% below NY	$191,500±$48kHighest 55% below NY
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,075±$207Highest 34% below NY	$1,066±$109Lowest 34% below NY
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,118Lowest 53% below NY	$3,138Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.4%±48.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dresden and Ward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%	7.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 24% above NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	4.3%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ward and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.