Compare towns
Ward vs Scio vs Decatur
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ward has the highest household income ($75k).
Scio has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Decatur has the most expensive homes ($174k 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.
| Measure | Ward | Scio | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 384 |
1,495Highest |
328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.9% NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 57.3±5.6Highest 44% above NY |
47.4±10.3Lowest 19% above NY |
55.3±7.6 39% above NY |
| Ward and Decatur 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% |
16.3%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Ward and Scio 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% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Ward and Decatur 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% |
19.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±5Highest NY: 7% |
| Decatur and Ward 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 |
$62,426±$11kLowest 27% below NY |
$69,375±$19k 19% below NY |
| Ward and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,800±$31k 68% below NY |
$117,100±$27kLowest 72% below NY |
$173,500±$40kHighest 59% below NY |
| Decatur 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 |
$863±$158 47% below NY |
$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY |
| Ward and Scio 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 |
$3,227 51% below NY |
$3,404Highest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.3%±34.3 NY: 52.1% |
50%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Decatur and Scio 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% |
17.6%Highest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6% NY: 54.3% |
90.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY |
1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 24% above NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
35 min 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 4.3%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Scio and Decatur 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 | 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.