What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).

Erwin has the shortest commute (15 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	Whiting	Erwin
People
Population	532Lowest	7,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average	43.8±2Highest 13% above U.S.
	Erwin and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Whiting and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Erwin and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Whiting and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S.	$88,333±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Whiting and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S.	$223,700±$26kLowest 33% below U.S.
	Whiting and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$519Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S.
	Erwin and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S.	$5,829Highest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whiting and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 17% below U.S.	15 minLowest 43% below U.S.
Work from home	10%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Whiting and Erwin 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	—	#431 of 484 in NY
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	CORNING CITY 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.