What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buchanan has the most people working from home (14.2%).

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.7%).

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	Monroe
People
Population	2,397Lowest	9,515Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+11.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±3.5Highest 3% below NY	32.6±5.1Lowest 18% below NY
	Buchanan and Monroe 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%	28.4%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Monroe and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	9.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	41.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Monroe and Buchanan 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	$109,851±$7kLowest 28% above NY
	Buchanan and Monroe 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	$427,800±$17kLowest about the NY average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,953±$836Lowest 20% above NY	$2,202±$203Highest 36% above NY
	Monroe and Buchanan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY	$10,000+ at least 52% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34%±23Lowest NY: 52.1%	37.3%±15.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Monroe 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%	9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest NY: 54.3%	81%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	32 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	14.2%±6Highest NY: 14.9%	8.3%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Buchanan and Monroe 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.