Compare towns
Bethany vs Alexander vs Phelps
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Alexander has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
Phelps has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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.
| Measure | Bethany | Alexander | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,754Lowest |
2,572Highest |
2,254 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.9Highest about the NY average |
32.7±5.3Lowest 18% below NY |
38.5±1.2 3% below NY |
| Bethany and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±5.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
31.6%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
26.4%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Alexander and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±1.2 NY: 17.9% |
12.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.8%±3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Phelps and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% NY: 40.2% |
20.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Phelps and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,859±$16k 12% below NY |
$75,875±$14kHighest 12% below NY |
$71,083±$12kLowest 17% below NY |
| Alexander and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$14kHighest 60% below NY |
$163,100±$17kLowest 62% below NY |
$170,400±$11k 60% below NY |
| Bethany and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $887±$196Lowest 45% below NY |
$1,277±$565Highest 21% below NY |
$1,111±$170 31% below NY |
| Alexander and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,205Highest 36% below NY |
$3,732Lowest 43% below NY |
$3,931 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±28.7 NY: 52.1% |
16.9%±5.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.3%±15.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Phelps and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% NY: 14% |
2.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% below NY |
22 min 34% below NY |
20 minLowest 39% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
3.7%±2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps and Bethany 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 | — | #295 of 484 in NY | #197 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | ALEXANDER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | ALEXANDER MIDDLE SCHOOL-HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.