What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Massena has the most people working from home (5.2%).

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	Massena
People
Population	2,592Lowest	10,238Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±9Highest 17% above NY	42.6±4.7Lowest 7% above NY
	Brasher and Massena 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%	19.4%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Massena 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%	20.4%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brasher and Massena 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%	25.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Brasher and Massena 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	$51,458±$7kLowest 40% below NY
	Brasher and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$124,300±$24kHighest 71% below NY	$94,400±$15kLowest 78% below NY
	Brasher and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$730±$195Highest 55% below NY	$722±$44Lowest 55% below NY
	Brasher and Massena 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	$3,218Highest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1%	57.8%±11.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brasher and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.4%Lowest NY: 14%	24.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	55.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 37% below NY	18 minLowest 45% below NY
Work from home	1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.2%±2.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Massena 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	—
School district	BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.