What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 41.2).

Edmeston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Edmeston
People
Population	2,150Highest	2,130Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Highest 4% above NY	35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below NY
	Brookfield and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Edmeston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	17.2%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Brookfield and Edmeston 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%	20%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Edmeston 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	$67,639±$12kLowest 21% below NY
	Brookfield and Edmeston 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	$147,400±$14kLowest 65% below NY
	Brookfield and Edmeston 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	$988±$295Highest 39% below NY
	Edmeston 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	$2,019Lowest 69% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%	35.3%±21.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Edmeston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Lowest NY: 14%	25.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Edmeston 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.