What stands out worked out from the figures below

Big Flats has the most people working from home (14.3%).

Catlin has the most affordable homes ($176k median).

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	Big Flats	Catlin
People
Population	7,592Highest	2,518Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±3.6Highest 9% above NY	42±5.3Lowest 6% above NY
	Big Flats and Catlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.5%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Catlin and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	16.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Big Flats and Catlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Catlin and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,044±$11kHighest about the NY average	$80,956±$20kLowest 6% below NY
	Big Flats and Catlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,500±$15kHighest 48% below NY	$176,400±$17kLowest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,345±$111Highest 17% below NY	$1,132±$195Lowest 30% below NY
	Big Flats and Catlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,765Highest 28% below NY	$3,919Lowest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	63.2%±27.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Catlin and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	5.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#118 of 484 in NY	—
School district	HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.