Compare towns
Busti vs Harmony vs Vernon
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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.8%).
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.
| Measure | Busti | Harmony | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,452 |
2,344Lowest |
8,219Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+53.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±4.8Highest 17% above NY |
41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY |
46.6±2.5Highest 17% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
22.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±2.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Harmony 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% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.8%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Busti and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.5% NY: 40.2% |
17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
30%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
4.8%±1.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Vernon and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,292±$9k 22% below NY |
$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
$77,601±$6kHighest 10% below NY |
| Vernon 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±$12k 61% below NY |
$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY |
$202,100±$11kHighest 52% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,085±$106Highest 33% below NY |
$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY |
$900±$127 44% below NY |
| Busti and Vernon 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 |
$2,805Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,656 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±13.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
43%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
26%±6.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Busti and Harmony 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% NY: 14% |
8.5%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1958Lowest 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
26 minHighest 21% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±3.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Vernon and Busti 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 | — | — | #368 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SHERRILL CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.