What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($445k median).

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	Cornwall
People
Population	12,433Lowest	12,755Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.6±2.1Highest 7% above NY	42.3±2.7Lowest 6% above NY
	Ballston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ballston and Cornwall 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%	19%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Cornwall 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%Highest NY: 40.2%	49.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.9%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Cornwall 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	$114,635±$11kLowest 33% above NY
	Ballston and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,200±$16kLowest 12% below NY	$444,800±$27kHighest 5% above NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,688±$220Lowest 4% above NY	$1,803±$124Highest 11% above NY
	Cornwall and Ballston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,103Lowest 7% below NY	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.2%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	45.6%±11.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Cornwall and Ballston 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%	5.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	19.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	16.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston and Cornwall 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	#29 of 484 in NY
School district	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORNWALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BALLSTON SPA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Lowest	13.3Highest
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.