What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ava has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Preston has the most people working from home (11.1%).

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	Ava	Preston
People
Population	633Lowest	856Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.9±8.7Lowest 18% above NY	49.2±8.2Highest 24% above NY
	Preston and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ava and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	11.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±2.5Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Ava and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,875±$21kLowest 16% below NY	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average
	Preston and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$125,700±$36kHighest 70% below NY	$122,300±$48kLowest 71% below NY
	Ava and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$249Lowest 54% below NY	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,793Lowest 73% below NY	$2,800Highest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.9%±67.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±75.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Preston and Ava are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.1%Highest NY: 14%	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	5.9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±10.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preston and Ava 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.