What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (11.5%).

Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).

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	Lenox
People
Population	2,150Lowest	8,658Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY	45.1±2Highest 13% above NY
	Lenox and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%	19.7%±2.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%	21.9%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Lenox and Brookfield 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%	21.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±1Highest NY: 7%
	Lenox 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±$9kLowest 20% below NY	$75,900±$8kHighest 12% below NY
	Lenox 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	$161,600±$9kHighest 62% below NY
	Lenox and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$981±$75Highest 39% below NY	$935±$83Lowest 42% below NY
	Brookfield and Lenox 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	$4,184Highest 36% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1%	38.5%±9.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Brookfield and Lenox 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%	10.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY	1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 11% above NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	8%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Brookfield and Lenox 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	—	#412 of 484 in NY
School district	—	ONEIDA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT · CANASTOTA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CANASTOTA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.6
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.