Compare towns
Busti vs Harmony vs Ellicott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Harmony has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Ellicott has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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.
| Measure | Busti | Harmony | Ellicott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,452 |
2,344Lowest |
8,659Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY |
45.3±3.1 14% above NY |
| Busti and Ellicott 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% |
22.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Harmony and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellicott and Busti 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% |
17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
2.4%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Harmony and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9kHighest 22% below NY |
$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$60,880±$7k 29% below NY |
| Busti and Ellicott 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 |
$128,300±$15k 70% below NY |
$120,700±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY |
$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY |
$875±$46 46% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,876Highest 41% below NY |
$2,805 57% below NY |
$2,662Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
43%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.5%±9.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Busti and Ellicott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
11% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% NY: 54.3% |
84.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1955Lowest 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
16 minLowest 52% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Busti and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #203 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | FALCONER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AT JAMESTOWN |
| High school in town | — | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | FALCONER MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.