What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Clifton Park has the most homeowners (83.2%).

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	Bethlehem	Clifton Park
People
Population	35,139Lowest	37,991Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	+3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.3±2Highest 14% above NY	44.1±1Lowest 11% above NY
	Bethlehem and Clifton Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±1.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Clifton Park and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±1.8Highest NY: 17.9%	19.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bethlehem and Clifton Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	58.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%	5.2%±0.8Highest NY: 7%
	Clifton Park and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,893±$9kLowest 44% above NY	$133,359±$6kHighest 55% above NY
	Clifton Park and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,400±$10kLowest 13% below NY	$395,400±$12kHighest 7% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY	$1,388±$96Lowest 14% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$5,793Lowest 12% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±7.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	48.2%±7.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Clifton Park and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest NY: 14%	2.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 33% below NY	26 minHighest 20% below NY
Work from home	19.6%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9%	19.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bethlehem and Clifton Park 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	#34 of 484 in NY	#32 of 484 in NY
School district	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	NISKAYUNA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	SHENENDEHOWA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	13.5Highest
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.