What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($153k median).

Columbus has the most people working from home (22.2%).

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	Brookfield	Columbus
People
Population	2,150Highest	849Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY	43.6±11.8Highest 10% above NY
	Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5%	21.8%±9 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	17.8%±6.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	19.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	2.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
	Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kHighest 20% below NY	$58,889±$11kLowest 32% below NY
	Brookfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kHighest 64% below NY	$124,700±$36kLowest 71% below NY
	Brookfield and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Lowest 39% below NY	$1,500±$635Highest 7% below NY
	Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Highest 51% below NY	$3,071Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	53.6%±92.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Columbus and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NY: 14%	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 19 yrs newer than NY	1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	32 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	22.2%±16.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Columbus and Brookfield 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.