What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

LaFayette has the highest household income ($114k).

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	LaFayette
People
Population	7,592Highest	4,878Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-0.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.5±3.6Lowest 9% above NY	45.5±5.8Highest 14% above NY
	LaFayette and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	17%±5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Big Flats and LaFayette 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%	21%±5.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Big Flats and LaFayette 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%	43.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±3Highest NY: 7%
	LaFayette 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	$113,750±$21kHighest 32% above NY
	LaFayette 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±$15kLowest 48% below NY	$228,600±$16kHighest 46% below NY
	LaFayette and Big Flats are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,345±$111Highest 17% below NY	$1,298±$123Lowest 20% below NY
	Big Flats and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,765Lowest 28% below NY	$4,836Highest 27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37%±17.4Highest NY: 52.1%	13.5%±17.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Big Flats and LaFayette are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.1%Highest NY: 14%	4.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 47% below NY	22 minHighest 33% below NY
Work from home	14.3%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	16.9%±7.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	LaFayette and Big Flats 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	#331 of 484 in NY
School district	HORSEHEADS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	LAFAYETTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	LA FAYETTE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.