What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Phelps has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Phelps
People
Population	1,754Lowest	2,254Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.8±3.9Highest about the NY average	38.5±1.2Lowest 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%	26.4%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Phelps and Bethany 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%	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%Lowest NY: 40.2%	26.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest 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±$16kHighest 12% below NY	$71,083±$12kLowest 17% below NY
	Bethany and Phelps 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	$170,400±$11kLowest 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	$1,111±$170Highest 31% below NY
	Phelps and Bethany 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	$3,931Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±28.7Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 14%	14.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.4%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±6.1Lowest 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	—	#197 of 484 in NY
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.