What stands out worked out from the figures below

Broome has the most affordable homes ($179k median).

Rensselaerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Broome	Rensselaerville
People
Population	773Lowest	1,901Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.2±3.7Highest 39% above NY	54±3.3Lowest 36% above NY
	Broome and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	14%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±2.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.1%±6.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	40.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.1%±6.3Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Broome and Rensselaerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,490±$12kLowest 9% below NY	$90,324±$26kHighest 5% above NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,200±$63kLowest 58% below NY	$259,800±$36kHighest 39% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,231±$254Lowest 24% below NY	$1,264±$152Highest 22% below NY
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,096Lowest 38% below NY	$5,247Highest 20% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±61.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Rensselaerville and Broome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest NY: 14%	0.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	89.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 11% above NY	38 minHighest 16% above NY
Work from home	14.6%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Broome and Rensselaerville 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.