What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ballston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21%).

Charlton has the most homeowners (96.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ballston	Charlton
People
Population	12,433Highest	4,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21%Highest NY: +4.2%	+4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.6±2.1Lowest 7% above NY	43.5±3.1Highest 9% above NY
	Charlton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±4Lowest NY: 20.5%	23.2%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Charlton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	23.5%±5.1Highest NY: 17.9%
	Charlton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	51.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Charlton and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,161±$14kHighest 35% above NY	$106,801±$22kLowest 24% above NY
	Ballston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,200±$16kHighest 12% below NY	$340,200±$21kLowest 20% below NY
	Ballston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,688±$220Highest 4% above NY	$1,390±$154Lowest 14% below NY
	Ballston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,103Highest 7% below NY	$5,198Lowest 21% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.2%±9.3Highest NY: 52.1%	18%±47.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Ballston and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest NY: 14%	5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	96.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	31 minHighest 6% below NY
Work from home	19.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	17.2%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston and Charlton 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	#33 of 484 in NY	#52 of 484 in NY
School district	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BALLSTON SPA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
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.