What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Corning has the most affordable homes ($168k 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	Corning
People
Population	7,592Highest	5,829Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±3.6Highest 9% above NY	41.6±3.6Lowest 5% above NY
	Big Flats and Corning 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%	24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Corning 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%	22.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Big Flats and Corning 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%	38%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	4.7%±1.2Highest NY: 7%
	Corning 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±$11kLowest about the NY average	$88,482±$10kHighest about the NY average
	Corning and Big Flats 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	$167,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,345±$111Highest 17% below NY	$1,289±$219Lowest 20% below NY
	Big Flats and Corning 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	$3,895Lowest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37%±17.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.1%±15Highest NY: 52.1%
	Corning 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%	8.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	20 minHighest 38% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%	8.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Big Flats and Corning 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	#118 of 484 in NY	#393 of 484 in NY
School district	HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER
Students per teacherat that high school	—	4.0
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.