What stands out worked out from the figures below

Black Brook has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

Minerva has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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	Black Brook	Minerva
People
Population	1,315Highest	836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	56.5±5.8Highest 42% above NY	56.2±5.7Lowest 41% above NY
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	10.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9%	35.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,852±$20kHighest 21% below NY	$67,303±$9kLowest 22% below NY
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$48kHighest 52% below NY	$171,800±$22kLowest 59% below NY
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$783±$461Lowest 52% below NY	$784±$102Highest 52% below NY
	Minerva and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,633Highest 45% below NY	$2,608Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1%	25.7%±74.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	88%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970 11 yrs newer than NY	1970 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 3% below NY	31 minLowest 5% below NY
Work from home	3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.6%±7.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Minerva and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.