What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Afton has the most people working from home (4.5%).

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	Brasher	Afton
People
Population	2,592Lowest	2,733Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±9Lowest 17% above NY	47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY
	Afton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±6.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Afton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±5Highest NY: 17.9%	22%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brasher and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	11.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Brasher and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,911±$14kHighest 37% below NY	$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY
	Brasher and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY	$125,700±$23kHighest 70% below NY
	Afton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY	$826±$212Highest 49% below NY
	Afton and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY	$3,395Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1%	66%±45.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brasher and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.4%Highest NY: 14%	12.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 37% below NY	23 minHighest 29% below NY
Work from home	1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Afton and Brasher 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	#300 of 484 in NY	#418 of 484 in NY
School district	BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	6.7
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.