What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most expensive homes ($246k median).

Caneadea has the most kids (14.2% under 18).

Brighton is a college town. 48.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Brighton	Caneadea
People
Population	1,351Lowest	2,316Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-18.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-9.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	22.2±1.3Lowest 44% below NY	22.7±0.8Highest 43% below NY
	Caneadea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	6.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	14.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	16.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%	15.8%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brighton and Caneadea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	55%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	48.1%±6Highest NY: 7%	39.7%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,750±$19kLowest 24% below NY	$82,563±$12kHighest 4% below NY
	Caneadea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,500±$60kHighest 42% below NY	$156,600±$10kLowest 63% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$199Highest 32% below NY	$991±$180Lowest 39% below NY
	Brighton and Caneadea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,544Lowest 61% below NY	$3,677Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16%±34Lowest NY: 52.1%	17.8%±17.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Caneadea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	71.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 45% below NY	20 minHighest 39% below NY
Work from home	12.1%±7.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.8%±7.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Caneadea and Brighton 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	#22 of 484 in NY	—
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.