What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the most people working from home (7%).

Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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	Bolton	Dresden
People
Population	2,034Highest	551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.3±6.5Lowest 39% above NY	59±2.8Highest 48% above NY
	Dresden and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	13.1%±3.1Highest NY: 20.5%
	Dresden and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.1%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9%	27.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Bolton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	1.8%±3Highest NY: 7%
	Dresden and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,898±$20kHighest 20% above NY	$64,180±$9kLowest 25% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$327,000±$105kHighest 23% below NY	$191,500±$48kLowest 55% below NY
	Bolton and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$967±$173Lowest 40% below NY	$1,066±$109Highest 34% below NY
	Dresden and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,627Highest 45% below NY	$3,138Lowest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±23.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	41.4%±48.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Dresden and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%	7.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1965Lowest 6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 22% below NY	31 minHighest 5% below NY
Work from home	7%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	1%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bolton and Dresden 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.