What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Batavia has the oldest population (median age 50.2).

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.

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

Measure	Bethany	Batavia
People
Population	1,754Lowest	6,656Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.8±3.9Lowest about the NY average	50.2±6.1Highest 26% above NY
Kids under 18	24.9%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	16.5%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bethany and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	29.5%±6Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	6%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Batavia 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±$16kHighest 12% below NY	$67,207±$11kLowest 22% below NY
	Bethany and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY	$191,000±$11kHighest 55% below NY
	Batavia and Bethany 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	$1,139±$153Highest 30% below NY
	Batavia and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,205Lowest 36% below NY	$5,723Highest 13% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±28.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	57%±24.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Batavia and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest NY: 14%	9.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% below NY	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	9.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bethany and Batavia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.