What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most affordable homes ($275k median).

Colden has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

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	Athens	Colden
People
Population	3,936Highest	3,145Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	52.2±4.3Highest 31% above NY	49.3±10.4Lowest 24% above NY
	Athens and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Colden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	23.3%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Athens and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	41%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7%
	Colden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,896±$14kLowest about the NY average	$97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY
	Colden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,700±$31kLowest 35% below NY	$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY
	Colden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$480Highest 22% below NY	$943±$142Lowest 42% below NY
	Athens and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,345Lowest 34% below NY	$4,752Highest 28% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31%±12.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1%
	Colden and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest NY: 14%	10%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 8 yrs newer than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	26 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	15.8%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	15%±7.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Athens and Colden 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	#261 of 484 in NY	#346 of 484 in NY
School district	COXSACKIE-ATHENS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None 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.