What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($370k median).

Penfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Penfield
People
Population	35,139Lowest	38,965Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+8.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.3±2Highest 14% above NY	45±1.6Lowest 13% above NY
	Bethlehem and Penfield 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%	23%±2.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Penfield 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%	21.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bethlehem and Penfield 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%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±0.9Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Bethlehem and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$123,893±$9kHighest 44% above NY	$119,154±$5kLowest 39% above NY
	Bethlehem and Penfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$370,400±$10kHighest 13% below NY	$291,500±$12kLowest 31% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,721±$81Highest 6% above NY	$1,473±$120Lowest 9% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,842Highest 19% above NY	$7,223Lowest 10% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±7.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±6.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Penfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NY: 14%	5.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 33% below NY	20 minLowest 39% below NY
Work from home	19.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	23.2%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Penfield and Bethlehem 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	#21 of 484 in NY
School district	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PENFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · WEBSTER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	BETHLEHEM CENTRAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	PENFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	12.2Lowest
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.