What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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

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	Busti	Brookfield
People
Population	7,452Highest	2,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY	41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY
	Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Brookfield and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9%	19.9%±4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.5%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1 NY: 7%	2.4%±1.3 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,292±$9kLowest 22% below NY	$69,205±$9kHighest 20% below NY
	Brookfield and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,600±$12kHighest 61% below NY	$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY
	Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY	$981±$75Lowest 39% below NY
	Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,876Highest 41% below NY	$3,197Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Busti and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Lowest NY: 14%	16.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Brookfield and Busti 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.