What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buchanan has the most expensive homes ($526k median).

Montrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Montrose
People
Population	2,397Lowest	3,717Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±3.5Highest 3% below NY	31.2±9Lowest 22% below NY
	Buchanan and Montrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.3Highest NY: 20.5%	21.5%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Buchanan and Montrose 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%	10.8%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	48.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	15%±8.4Highest NY: 7%
	Montrose 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±$23kLowest 49% above NY	$145,320±$22kHighest 69% above NY
	Montrose and Buchanan 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	$422,700±$37kLowest about the NY average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,953±$836Lowest 20% above NY	$2,244±$907Highest 38% above NY
	Montrose and Buchanan 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	$7,067Lowest 7% above NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34%±23Lowest NY: 52.1%	44.5%±28.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Montrose 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%	6.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	31 minLowest 4% below NY
Work from home	14.2%±6Lowest NY: 14.9%	16%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Montrose 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.