What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stafford has the shortest commute (21 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	Stafford
People
Population	1,754Lowest	2,251Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.8±3.9Lowest about the NY average	41.9±2.2Highest 5% above NY
	Stafford and Bethany 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%	27.2%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Stafford 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%	18.9%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Stafford 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%	29.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Bethany and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,859±$16kLowest 12% below NY	$87,554±$16kHighest about the NY average
	Stafford 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±$14kLowest 60% below NY	$182,500±$17kHighest 57% below NY
	Stafford and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$887±$196Highest 45% below NY	$848±$230Lowest 48% below NY
	Bethany and Stafford 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	$4,649Highest 29% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±28.7Highest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±30.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bethany and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 14% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	9.8%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bethany and Stafford 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.