Compare towns
Alexander vs Root
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alexander has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).
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 | Alexander | Root |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,572Highest |
1,963Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 32.7±5.3Lowest 18% below NY |
32.8±6.1Highest 18% below NY |
| Root and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 31.6%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Root and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±1.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Alexander and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Root and Alexander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $75,875±$14kHighest 12% below NY |
$75,771±$6kLowest 12% below NY |
| Alexander and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,100±$17kLowest 62% below NY |
$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,277±$565Highest 21% below NY |
$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY |
| Alexander and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,732Lowest 43% below NY |
$3,795Highest 42% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.9%±5.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Alexander and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.5%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 34% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.7%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #295 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | ALEXANDER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | ALEXANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL-HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.