What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 41.2).

Hamilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.6%).

Hamilton is a college town. 50.3% 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	Brookfield	Hamilton
People
Population	2,150Lowest	6,350Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Highest 4% above NY	21.3±0.4Lowest 46% below NY
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	12.4%±2.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.9%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	8.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	49.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	50.3%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY	$75,398±$14kHighest 12% below NY
	Hamilton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY	$240,800±$57kHighest 43% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Lowest 39% below NY	$1,265±$237Highest 22% below NY
	Hamilton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,197Lowest 51% below NY	$5,963Highest 9% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%	35.5%±9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Hamilton 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	67.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	18 minLowest 44% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	10.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Brookfield and Hamilton 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	—	#79 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HAMILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	HAMILTON JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
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.