What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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	Milton
People
Population	12,433Lowest	19,036Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21%Highest NY: +4.2%	+1.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	42.6±2.1Highest 7% above NY	42.2±2.3Lowest 6% above NY
	Ballston and Milton 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%	21.3%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Ballston and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%	16%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Ballston and Milton 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%	37.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Milton 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	$100,322±$9kLowest 17% above NY
	Ballston and Milton 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	$311,500±$19kLowest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,688±$220Highest 4% above NY	$1,423±$89Lowest 12% below NY
	Ballston and Milton 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	$4,385Lowest 33% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.2%±9.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±10.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Milton 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%	5.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1985Lowest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	25 minLowest 23% below NY
Work from home	19.3%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	15.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Ballston and Milton 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	#330 of 484 in NY
School district	BALLSTON SPA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BALLSTON SPA 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.