What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Altamont has the most people working from home (20.7%).

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	Buchanan	Altamont
People
Population	2,397Highest	1,855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±3.5Lowest 3% below NY	42.2±4.3Highest 6% above NY
	Altamont and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	26.4%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Altamont and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.2%±2.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Altamont and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	50.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Buchanan and Altamont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$128,218±$23kHighest 49% above NY	$112,159±$19kLowest 30% above NY
	Buchanan and Altamont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,500±$55kHighest 24% above NY	$318,900±$33kLowest 25% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,953±$836Highest 20% above NY	$1,201±$233Lowest 26% below NY
	Buchanan and Altamont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 52% above NY	$6,053Lowest 8% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34%±23Lowest NY: 52.1%	52.4%±18.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Altamont and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest NY: 14%	6.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest NY: 54.3%	79.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959 same as NY	1959 same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	31 minLowest 6% below NY
Work from home	14.2%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	20.7%±3.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Altamont and Buchanan 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.