What stands out worked out from the figures below

Avoca has the most affordable homes ($105k median).

Howard has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).

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	Avoca	Howard
People
Population	2,340Highest	1,254Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.4±6Lowest 7% above NY	49.1±3.1Highest 23% above NY
	Howard and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5%	17.7%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.6%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Howard and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	14.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±3.6Highest NY: 7%	0.8%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,730±$9kLowest 21% below NY	$73,906±$5kHighest 14% below NY
	Howard and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$104,700±$8kLowest 75% below NY	$128,100±$25kHighest 70% below NY
	Howard and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$781±$164Highest 52% below NY	$775±$242Lowest 52% below NY
	Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,106Lowest 68% below NY	$2,605Highest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±20.9Highest NY: 52.1%	7.9%±64.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Highest NY: 14%	12.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	85.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 21% below NY	23 minLowest 31% below NY
Work from home	6.1%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	5.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Avoca and Howard 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.