What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Russell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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	Bangor	Russell
People
Population	2,019Lowest	2,091Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	36.4±6.7Highest 9% below NY	35.9±4.6Lowest 10% below NY
	Bangor and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	25.9%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bangor and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.2%±0.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Russell and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	19.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Bangor and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,000±$8kLowest 24% below NY	$65,189±$3kHighest 24% below NY
	Russell and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$106,400±$19kLowest 75% below NY	$110,400±$10kHighest 74% below NY
	Russell and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$839±$382Lowest 48% below NY	$906±$123Highest 44% below NY
	Russell and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,208Lowest 66% below NY	$2,235Highest 66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±39.1Highest NY: 52.1%	30.7%±27.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bangor and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19%Lowest NY: 14%	20.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	34 minHighest 3% above NY
Work from home	13.1%±11.9Highest NY: 14.9%	11.9%±6.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bangor and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	EDWARDS-KNOX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	EDWARDS-KNOX JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.8
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.